In Yemen, dates provide lifeline for farmers with few economic options

Hajr, Yemen – Under the scorching sun of eastern Yemen’s Hadramout region, locals – young and old – immerse themselves in the annual date harvest, working among dark mounds of freshly harvested fruit spread across stones.

Farmers here in Hajr, about two hours west of Hadramout’s provincial capital of Mukalla, picked the dates about a week ago from vast palm groves nearby. They t...