Sana'a: Houthis force garlic producers to sell to their affiliated institution

The terrorist Houthi militia launched a major attack on local garlic sellers and producers to force them to sell to a Houthi institution and buy from it, and impose additional taxes.

Houthi sources and farmers said that the so-called Agricultural Services Corporation in Sana'a launched a large campaign yesterday evening, Sunday, with more than twenty Houthi vehicles and dozens of Houthi gunmen who attacked the entire garlic sector, including farmers, agents, wholesalers, retailers, and others, and opened live fire on them.

Activists on social media circulated video clips showing Houthi militia elements setting fire to the shops.

According to the sources, the Houthi institution prevented agents from buying from farmers in production areas, and agents were also prevented from buying from farmers in their shops. They were also prevented from selling retail in their shops to customers.

The militia also banned agents from selling and distributing garlic to the governorates, and imposed a comprehensive cordon and a suffocating siege that prevented agents from entering or leaving Sana'a, according to the sources.

She pointed out that last year, agents incurred more than 200 million riyals due to Houthi measures, the season was stagnant, and thousands of farmers lost their season.

The attack is currently taking place in Sana'a under the supervision of the Houthi Ministry of Agriculture and senior Houthi leaders.

The Houthi militia seeks, through its Agricultural Services Corporation, to monopolize purchases from farmers, monopolize sales to agents, and distribute between governorates, while imposing its own tax of more than 7% of the value of the products.