Citrus cultivation in the Hail region has flourished over a number of past years. It has been passed down through generations of those interested and passionate about agriculture in the region. Hail annually organizes a number of agricultural festivals, including the Hail Citrus Festival, reported Saudi Press Agency.
Hail: Agriculture-Friendly Region
The agricultural importance of the Hail region is due to its moderate climate, fertile soil, and high-quality water, which are suitable for citrus cultivation and a number of other varieties, in addition to the accumulated expertise of the farmers.
Region’s Cooperative Agricultural Association organizes the Hail Citrus Festival. The festival aims to introduce the types of citrus for which the region is famous, exchange agricultural experiences and knowledge among farmers and those interested to develop their agricultural products. Moreover, it works on enhancing economic activity, opening marketing windows for farmers, and targeting new domestic and international markets. The festival also highlights the nutritional and medicinal benefits of citrus, particularly its richness in vitamins and fibers essential for human health, especially vitamin C.
The Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Cooperative Agricultural Marketing Association in the Hail region explained that the events of the third edition of the Citrus Festival present many unique varieties of citrus products for farmers, investors, and visitors to see. It gives an illustrative picture of the high relative advantage that the Hail region enjoys in the agricultural sector.
Citrus Farms in Hail
He pointed out that the citrus farms in the region produce more than 10,000 tons annually, over an area estimated at 1,400 hectares. They represent 30% of the local consumption.
It also constituted 46% of the total citrus exports of the kingdom for the year 2022, according to the statistics of the Ministry of Environment, Water, and Agriculture.
He also noted that the rate of increase in the citrus-planted- areas in the Hail region exceeded 5% annually. Therefore, this indicates an increasing interest in citrus cultivation in the region and its expansion.
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