المملكة: "the environment": Agricultural and food production increased to more than 16 million tons

It resulted in an increase in the total production of agricultural and food commodities to more than 16 million tons in 2024.

Saudi Arabia’s gross domestic product

This contributed to increasing the sector’s contribution to the gross domestic product and reaching about 31.5 billion dollars, which increases its value. As a major supporter of the national economy, in order to achieve the goals of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030.

This came during the participation of the Director of the Ministry’s National Agriculture Strategy Implementation Department, Engineer Ali Ahmed Al-Zahrani, in a dialogue session entitled: (The Kingdom’s Vision for a Sustainable and Innovative Agricultural Future), which was held to review the leadership’s vision for enhancing food security.

This is through flexible food systems. And sustainable, as part of the activities of the Saudi Agricultural Exhibition 2025 in its forty-second edition, which was held in Riyadh during the period from 20 to 23 of this October.

The National Strategy for Saudi Agriculture

Engineer Al-Zahrani explained that the National Strategy for Agriculture contributed to developing the agricultural sector and overcoming many of the challenges it faced during the past years, including the scarcity of resources. Water, harsh climatic conditions, low productivity rates, in addition to the challenges of marketing agricultural products and the difficulty of them reaching markets.

He pointed out that the strategy set clear goals to achieve the sustainability of the agricultural sector, and raise its contributions to achieving food security, and economic, environmental and social development, through the effective management of natural resources and the adoption of agricultural technologies. Innovative.

In addition to protecting agricultural systems and ensuring food safety, empowering small farmers, and building national capacities, in addition to expanding international investments and partnerships in the agricultural sector.

38 pioneering national initiatives

He stated that the Ministry launched 38 pioneering national initiatives, within the national strategy for agriculture, which included 11 initiatives to improve and enhance productivity. Agriculture, 5 initiatives to structure the sector and build its capabilities, 5 initiatives to support sustainable agricultural rural development programs, and 5 initiatives to promote effective protection of plants and animals according to the One Health approach.

In addition to 4 initiatives to localize and develop flexible and sustainable food systems to enhance food security, 3 initiatives to enhance the sustainability of natural resources and adapt to climate change, and 3 Initiatives to develop marketing and agricultural services, and two initiatives to protect local products and promote exports.

He indicated that the agricultural sector has achieved remarkable progress and great achievements in many indicators of agricultural production, as the compound annual growth rate of the domestic product during the past five years exceeded 7%.

Implementing effective irrigation systems

also contributed The application of effective irrigation systems reduced the use of non-renewable water in agriculture by 52% compared to 2016, while the total soft agricultural loans provided by the Agricultural Development Fund increased by more than $1.9 billion.

Engineer Al-Zahrani pointed to many investment opportunities for the private sector, in the fields of plant and animal production, which included integrated projects for the production of seeds and seedlings, and And processing of fruits and vegetables, intensive livestock breeding projects, fish farming, and the production of large-sized poultry for cutting purposes.

He added that the gross domestic production of fruits exceeded 2.9 million tons, including dates, with a self-sufficiency rate of 64%, relying in its production mainly on open-air systems, with a noticeable expansion in shaded house systems, While the local production of vegetables exceeded 3.5 million tons, with a self-sufficiency rate of 78%.

The agricultural sector in Saudi Arabia

He noted that the Ministry has provided incentives and capabilities to enhance investment in the agricultural sector, the most important of which is facilitating the rental of land, and simplifying the procedures for granting agricultural licenses for productive projects.

In addition to promoting the adoption of smart agricultural systems and sustainable developments, and providing technical and advisory support to develop and build farmers’ skills, in addition to expanding soft agricultural loan programs through the Agricultural Development Fund.

In addition, the Saudi Agricultural Exhibition witnessed many other dialogue sessions, including an international dialogue session, entitled: "Collaboration for Food Security: Enabling the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 through Dutch agriculture solutions in a controlled environment" With the participation of an elite group of experts in agricultural and water technologies.

It addressed the importance of cooperation between the public and private sectors, knowledge institutions, universities, and companies. It is the way to enhance food and water security in the Kingdom and the region, and that achieving food security begins with water security, and technology transfer is not complete without the transfer of knowledge, employment, training, and after-sales services.