SAADA, Yemen — Farmers in Yemen’s Saada province, bordering Saudi Arabia, began harvesting pomegranates in late July amid a Saudi ban on the import of the crop. On the one hand, farmers fear the ban will lead to a price drop on local markets, but on the other, traders hope the lower prices will encourage more people to buy the fruit. Saudi Arabia is the biggest market for Yemeni pomegranates.

Saudi Arabia declared a “temporary” ban on the import of fresh pomegranates from Yemen in December 2018. At the time, Sanad al-Harbi, director-general of the Saudi Environment Ministry's Livestock Risk Assessment Department, explaining the reason for the ban, asserted, “Proven pesticide residues [found in pomegranates from Saada] exceeded the global limit.”

Ahmed Shaafal, director of al-Erteqaa, the central market in Saada city, told Al-Monitor that exporters had begun sending trucks carrying pomegranates to the Wadia border crossing at Marib, only to be told that the ban remained in effect.

“About 10 trucks of pomegranates at the Wadia crossing were banned [from entering Saudi Arabia] under the pretext [of excessive pesticides],” Shafaal said. “Truck drivers were told by Saudi authorities that pomegranates are banned this year.”