The honey exhibition in Jazan, held as part of the Jazan Winter Festival at the Cultural Center in Al-Aydabi Governorate, achieved remarkable economic success, with sales exceeding two million Saudi riyals during its first ten days. This record-breaking figure reflects the high turnout of visitors and consumers and underscores the prestigious position of Jazan honey as a high-quality national product.
Background and history of beekeeping in Jazan
The Jazan region boasts a long history of beekeeping and honey production, a profession deeply intertwined with its cultural and economic heritage. The distinctiveness of Jazan honey stems from the region's unique geographical diversity, stretching from the warm coastal plains of Tihama to the cold mountain highlands of the Sarawat Mountains. This environmental diversity provides a rich and varied vegetation cover year-round, allowing bees to produce numerous varieties of premium honey, each with its own unique therapeutic and nutritional properties, such as Sidr, Samar, Salam, Dhahyan, and Majra honeys.
The importance of the exhibition and its economic and social impact
The exhibition's executive director and vice president of the Jazan Beekeepers Cooperative Society, Suleiman bin Yahya Al-Ghazwani, explained that the exhibition features 60 beekeepers from various governorates in the region, showcasing more than 15 types of locally produced honey. Al-Ghazwani emphasized that this wide variety of products was a key factor in attracting large numbers of visitors and increasing sales. He added that the decision to extend the exhibition period came in response to the remarkable turnout, providing beekeepers with a greater opportunity to market their products and visitors to take advantage of the available offers.
The exhibition's impact extends beyond the commercial aspect, serving as a direct economic platform that supports the rural economy and empowers beekeepers and productive families. It contributes to providing a sustainable source of income and enhances the value of local products, aligning with the goals of the Kingdom's Vision 2030, which aims to diversify income sources, support national products, and strengthen the role of small and medium-sized enterprises in the national economy.
An educational platform to raise awareness
In addition to being a commercial marketplace, the exhibition plays a vital educational role. Through accompanying events, including informational booths, awareness programs, and educational activities, visitors are introduced to the fundamentals of beekeeping, honey extraction methods, and how to distinguish between genuine and adulterated honey. These events enrich the visitor experience, raise awareness of the importance of honey as a food and health product, and reinforce its connection to the environment and local heritage, thus ensuring the sustainability of this vital industry for future generations.
