Page 27 - Vol.39-No.7

SAUDI AGRICULTURE

Fish and seafood are the largest growing tions, with regard to the transportation and
segments of the food market, with the logistics requirements of seafood, there
market size expected to reach US$10.03 are great opportunities for growth. There
billion in 2022. is significant scope for further growth in
production volumes and to supply the
Size of the Saudi ever-increasing demand for seafood in
aquaculture market: national and international markets
In 2017, Saudi Arabia's aquaculture in- The government's commitment to de-
dustry produced more than 60,000 tons veloping the sector to its fullest potential
of shrimp, marine and freshwater fish, with Saudi Arabia is strongly committed to
its production actually doubling from just developing the aquaculture industry. Pro-
the previous year. The plan is 100 thousand ducing high-quality food in a sustainable
tons in 2020, and about 600 thousand manner is part of Saudi Arabia’s Vision
tons in 2030. The potential of the Red 2030, and in line with Vision 2030, the
Sea’s clean waters, favorable environmental Ministry of Environment, Water and Agri-
conditions, and distinct geographical loca- culture (MEWA) has launched a dedicated
The aquaculture sector is rapidly growing, program committed to reaching 600,000
as aquaculture is considered one of the tons of fishery products by 2030. The pro-
fastest growing food production sectors gram (NPDF) has set a budget of 1.3 One
in the Kingdom, as it provides more than billion Saudi riyals to open up the sector
half of the seafood consumed. Driven by through investment in infrastructure, re-
ever-increasing demand locally and inter- search and development, and marketing
nationally, aquaculture production in the campaigns. In addition, Saudi Arabia's strin-
Kingdom is scheduled to reach 970,000 gent quality assurance and safety programs
tons annually by 2029. Fish and seafood have made Saudi Arabia famous for its safe,
are the largest growing sectors in the food high-quality seafood products.
market, with the market size expected to
reach US$10.03 billion in Year 2022. The exhibitions will be held at the Ri-
yadh International Convention and Exhi-
bition Center.

Circle 36 on enquiry card
INITIATIVES AND PROGRAMS TO DEVELOP

COFFEE CULTIVATION IN SAUDI ARABIA

In commemoration of International of Arabica coffee. Additionally, the Ministry across an expanse exceeding 10 million
Coffee Day, the Ministry of Environment, has signed an investment agreement for hectares in over 50 countries, supporting
Water, and Agriculture in Saudi Arabia has the establishment of the Kingdom's first the livelihoods of approximately 125 million
highlighted its commitment to coffee cul- coffee city. individuals across Latin America, Africa, and
tivation development. In the southern re- Asia. These people rely on coffee as their
gion alone, the Kingdom boasts more than primary source of income, whether it be
(2,535) coffee farms, including over (500) Arabica or Robusta varieties. Arabica, being
model coffee farms. the more prevalent, accounts for roughly
The Ministry's objective is to trans- 65% of total commercial production, while
form (15) regions in the southwestern Robusta contributes about 35%. According
part of the Kingdom into significant hubs to statistics, 500 billion cups of coffee are
for Arabica coffee production, known for consumed every day worldwide.
its exceptional quality compared to other
varieties. This initiative aims to boost the
Kingdom's coffee crop production, aligning ADVERTISE IN
ADVERTISE IN
with the economic goals in Vision 2030. The Saudi Khawlani coffee is inscribed
in the UNESCO on the Representative List
THE ARAB WORLD
Saudi Arabia is classified among the top THE ARAB WORLD
10 coffee-consuming countries, and within of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Hu-
its borders, over 400 thousand coffee trees manity. Locally 'Arabic coffee' is officially AGRIBUSINESS
AGRIBUSINESS
in Saudi Arabia produce the finest species in renamed 'Saudi coffee' to strengthen local
the world. The Kingdom's target is to plant culture, and the Year of Saudi Coffee was
MAGAZINE AND
1.2 million coffee trees by 2026. commemorated in 2022. Moreover, The MAGAZINE AND
Public Investment Fund established the
The Ministry has launched various in- Saudi Coffee Company.
PROMOTE YOUR
itiatives and programs to foster coffee PROMOTE YOUR
cultivation, including the Sustainable Coffee stands as one of the most trad-
PRODUCTS
Agricultural Rural Development Program ed agricultural commodities globally and PRODUCTS
(REF). The program focuses on enhancing serves as a significant revenue genera-
the production, processing, and marketing tor for numerous nations. It is cultivated
Vol. 39 No. 7 25
Circle 37 on enquiry card