The Sustainable Agricultural Rural Development Program “Reef Saudi” announced a significant reduction of up to 90% in harvesting expenses of rainfed crops like wheat and barley, reported Saudi Press Agency (SPA).
The announcement came within an important workshop held recently in Riyadh themed “The National Plan for Rainfed Agriculture”.
The workshop was attended by various stakeholders, including representatives from the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture, a delegation from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), and senior specialists.
The discussions revolved around the national programs and initiatives designed to expand the concept of rainfed agriculture across the Kingdom after it has initially started in Jazan, Asir, Al-Baha, and Makkah.
Reef Saudi program seeks to plant various rainfed crops, including sorghum, millet, sesame, wheat, and barley.
The program aims to increase the crops’ self-sufficiency, reduce the dependence on the imported crops, and foster productivity through water-harvesting techniques and modern irrigation methods.
Furthermore, it offers advanced technical services for post-harvest operations, including automated harvesting techniques, contributing to minimizing costs and losses.
In a remarkable stride towards fulfilling these goals, over 370 machineries have been deployed through the mechanization initiative, benefiting more than 2,256 farmers.
This step facilitated harvesting over 7.8 million square meters of land and prepared over 1.3 million square meters for agricultural use.
As a part of the Saudi Green Initiative, Reef Saudi empowers small farmers by enhancing their technical skills and sharing knowledge on new irrigation systems and water harvesting.
In March 2024, Reef Saudi has exceeded its ambitious targets and announced the success of planting 13 million trees in various regions across the Kingdom.
Related Topics:
KSA Launches Seed Harvesting Project to Combat Desertification in Ranyah
Saudi Harvest Reveals Digital Transformation in KSA
Second Agricultural Festival Enters Third Day in Qilwa
