Golden Grass, Inc. 25 years Celebration


Golden Grass, Inc. have celebrated its 25 years of fruitful business in Saudi Arabia last 2 November 2006.

During the course of the celebration, it showcases the achievements such as being the the top exporter of peanuts in the Middle East and one of the top 100 companies in Saudi Arabia. It focuses also the present and futures plans of the company to spread its agriculture expertise in the arab world.

The highlights of the celebration was honoring it division with plaque of appreciation and citations, give away gifts and luncheon. The Celebrations was attended by Golden Grass,Inc. employees and staff.

Cloned Wheat Gene Boosts Nutrition


Tuesday, 28 November 2006
Reuters

Scientists have cloned a gene from wild wheat that they hope could boost the nutritional value of bread and pasta and help fight world hunger, the US Department of Agriculture said. Researchers at the University of California-Davis and the University of Haifa in Israel cloned the gene, GPC-B1, which increases grain protein, zinc and iron content.
The project was funded by the Agriculture Department and a bilateral US-Israeli research fund, USDA said in a statement.
“As a major crop across the globe, providing 20 percent of all calories consumed by humans, any improvement in the nutritional value of wheat would have substantial health benefits for much of the world’s population,” Gale Buchanan, USDA’s undersecretary for research, education and economics, said in a statement.
GPC-B1 increases grain protein and micronutrient content by up to 15 percent in some wheat varieties, USDA said. The hope is that pasta and bread made from wheat with a functional copy of the gene would be more healthy.
The research was partially funded by USDA’s Cooperative State Research, Education and Extension Service.

http://www.saudigazette.com.sa/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=20548&Itemid=118

Golden Grass, Inc. Awards/Citations
18 November 2006

Arab News Top 100 Supplement
Saudi Arabia


Golden Grass,Inc. The top 100 Saudi Companies 2001 Rank no. 100

Golden Grass, Inc.The top 100 Saudi Companies 2001 Rank no. 96

Golden Grass, Inc. The top 100 Saudi Companies 1995 Rank no. 95



Search Magazine
Saudi Arabia, The Gulf and The Middle East


Golden Grass, Inc. has been listed among its top 100 Saudi Corporations for the year 1997.

Golden Grass, Inc. has been listed among its top 100 Saudi Exporting Corporations for the year 1996.

Golden Grass, Inc. has been listed among its top 100 Saudi non-oil exporting corporations supplement for the year 1995.



Al Hayat Newspaper
Saudi Arabia


Golden Grass, Inc. has been listed as one of The top 150 companies in Saudi Arabia for the year 1999


Top 1000 Saudi Companies
International Information & Trading Services Co.
Saudi Arabia


Golden Grass, Inc. Top 1000 companies 7th edition 2003-2004 rank no. 247

Golden Grass, Inc. Top 1000 companies 5th edition 1997-1998 rank no. 208

Golden Grass, Inc. Top 1000 companies 4th edition 1995-1996 rank no. 208

Golden Grass, Inc. Top 1000 companies 3rd edition 1993 rank no. 233

Golden Grass, Inc. Top 1000 companies 2nd edition 1991-92 rank no. 394



Top Exporters and Importers Directory
Published by IIT
Saudi Arabia


Golden Grass, Inc. has been listed at the Top Exporters Section for the 1994-1995.

Saudi farm to grow olives in Hail
Arab News 9 July 1999


Riyadh --- The Kingdom's policy to encourage crop diversification as part of its water conservation program is paying dividends, with a Saudi farm becoming the first in the Kingdom to grow olives at its facility in Hail.

We are also looking for a joint venture partner to go into the production of peanut butter, "Turki Faisal Al Rasheed, president of Golden Grass, Inc., told Arab News. He said their peanut farm at Hail is already producing 7,000 to 10,000 tons of peanut annually. Hence there is a good potential for peanut butter, which is currently being imported.

Asked about the olive production at his farm, Al Rasheed said the first crop of six tons is expected in three months. At present, Saudi Arabia is importing olives from Spain, Morocco and other Maghreb countries. Local production of olives could set the state for the extraction of olive oil in future. According to him, the Kingdom's crop diversification program owes its success largely to the government's encouragement and support in the form of subsidies which range from 50 percent of the official price on irrigation engines and pumps to 45 percent of the official price of farm machinery, 30 percent each of the total cost of poultry/dairy farms equipment, besides full cost of air transport (more than 50 cows per shipment), etc.
As a result, there has been a remarkable growth in the production of most categories of vegetables, fruits, meat, milk and eggs. Replying to a question on the payment of arrears to farmers, Al Rasheed said that some 38,000 people will benefit, with the latest installment of dues amounting to SR 3 billion payable by September 1998. A total of SR 18 billion has been paid to the farmers during the last three years, he observed.

Golden Grass succeeds in peanut cultivation
Saudi Commerce & Economic Review
January 1996


A Saudi company, Golden Grass, Inc., has successfully cultivated peanu (groundnut) in Saudi Arabia in its farm at Hail. This is the first successful experiment in peanut cultivation in the Middle East.

The local market demand for peanuts is 5,000 tonnes a year. The company plans to add value to its crop by manufacturing peanut butter. This plant is already built and is waiting for loan approval from the Saudi Industrial Development Fund (SIDF). It also plants to set up a facility for roasted, salted and blanched peanuts.

The company initially had a tough time marketing its crop in the Kingdom and ran into losses for two to three years. But today it has a 30 percent market share with its "Virginia" and "Runner" varieties. Major international buyers are from Australia, Europe, Jordan and theUAE. Negotiations are under way to export to the US and South Africa.

Kingdom promotes food productivity
Arab News 19 May 1990

Riyadh--- Minister of Industry and Electricity Abdulaziz Al-Zamil will inaugurate at the Saudi Consulting House tomorrow a seminar on boosting productivity of food industries in the Kingdom, it was announced here today.

It is the first time that a seminar of this type is being organized to promote the concept of productivity in the farm sector in conjunction with renowned consultants like Arthur D. Little International Inc., Booth Smith Associates an W.S. Atkins and Associates. Praising the idea behind the seminar, Turki Faisal Al Rasheed , told " Arab News" that it might be a good idea to consider transferring part of the wheat subsidies to other crops like maize, barley, corn, peanuts and soyabean where cultivation has to be undertaken with a low level of subsidies. He said that since the Kingdom was already production an extra three million tons of wheat, it made sense to whittle down wheat subsidies and divert the same to other crops which had become unrenumerative on this score.

Al Rasheed suggested that the Grain Silos Flour Mills Organizaion (GSFMO) of the Ministry of Commerce should set up a mechanism that allowed banks to endorse the promissory note. This, he said, would help solve credit flow problems for the farmers who now have to depend on their own resourcecs.

SR 9billion payout to benefit farming, retail sectors
Arab News 27 August 1996

Riyadh—An estimated 40,000 Saudi farmers will start receiving the first installment of SR 9 billion from the branch offices of the Saudi Arabian Monetary Agency (SAMA) in the Kingdom starting from Aug. 31.

Giving this information to Arab News, Turki Faisal Al-Rasheed, president of Golden Grass, Inc., a Saudi agricultural firm, said the total amount of dues to the farmers –SR 9 billion—has been divided into three installments of SR 3 billion each, of which the first installment falls due on Aug. 31. The remaining two installments will be paid out on Sept. 1, 1997 and '98 respectively.

The farmers were distributed convertible promissory notes, or 'shahadah', last year indicating the date of encashment. Thanking the Saudi government for its gesture to the farmers, Al-Rasheed said it will go a long way in giving a much-needed boost to the farming community.

The impact of this cash infusion into the economy, he said, will be felt all the way from Wadi Dawasir in the Central province to Tabuk up north. "What this means is that each farmer will receive, on an average, SR 230,000. Such a sizeable cash infusion into the economy will have a multiplier effect. It will not only help the agricultural sector but also the retail sector, as it will give a new lift to their spending power. "He pointed out that it will also relieve pressure on the farmers, since each payment is preceded by the agricultural certificate promising payment on a due date." So instead of making direct payment, they could transfer the agricultural certificate to the suppliers of fertilizer, such as Sabic, or diesel oil, like petromin."

Al-Rasheed said the mode of payment adopted in the case of farmers could open new business opportunities for the private sector without building up the monetary pressure. "For instance, the contractors could receive promissory notes stating a fixed date for the payment of their dues. This will keep things moving while minimizing pressure on the government budget."

Referring to this future plans, Al-Rasheed said Golden Grass is in the process of setting up a peanut butter farm estimated to cost around SR 15 million at their facility in Hail. The Saudi Industrial Development Fund is studying their proposal and is expected to take an early decision on their loan application.
The proposed peanut butter plant is part of the firm's import substitution program. Currently, the Kingdom imports 2,500 tons of peanut annually. Since Golden Grass has its own peanut farm production of peanut butter is deemed to be a logical step in this direction. There is at present only one peanut butter plant in the Kingdom.

Farmers welcome government decision on payments
Arab News 29 July 1999

Riyadh---Saudi farmers have welcomed the government's decision to release on Saturday dues amounting to over SR 773 million.

Turki Faisal Al-Rasheed, the president of Golden Grass, Inc. said that the payment of arrears for the agricultural season 1416H(1995-96) will stimulate the agricultural industry. His own farm at Hail produces olives, grapes, nectarines, apricots and plums. The company originally produce wheat.

The decision was taken in the light of the Kingdom's agricultural policy to encourage the production of crops that are not heavily dependent on water.

Kingdom, Iraq to boost trade exchange
Arab News 14 May 1989


Riyadh—The fifth session of the Saudi-Iraq Joint commission, which concluded its two-day deliberations here today, decided on a package of measures to beef up bilateral trade which registered a sharp increase on both sides, Deputy Minister of Commerce Dr. Abdul Rahman Al Zamil told newsman after the meeting.

He said both sides noted with satisfaction the steady growth in the volume of trade thanks to the tariff exemption for a hundred products from both countries and "reduction in the number of non-tariff obstacles." As a result, Saudi exports to Iraq soared from SR 93.6 million in 1988 to SR 229.2 million in the first nine months of last year. Imports from Iraq during the same period jumped from SR 84 million to SR 106 million.

Lauding the growth in the Saudi-Iraqi trade relations. Turki Faisal Al Rasheed, president of Golden Grass, Inc. , said Saudi Arabia which has invested billions of Saudi Riyals in its agricultural development program, has acquired a rich expertise in farm management which would be highly useful to the Arab World with similar climatic and soil conditions. He said Saudi farmers could make a distinctive contribution to Iraqi agriculture which has remained underdeveloped as a result of subsidized food coming from abroad.

التاريخ : 17/9/1418هـ
الموافق : 15/1/1998م

ترجمة مقال عن صحيفة رياض ديلي ( RIYADH DAILY )
خاصة بمعلومات عن الفول السوداني
في 27/11/1995م


إن شركة الأعشاب الذهبية في حائل .. تعتبر الشركة الوحيدة في المملكة العربية السعودية التي تنتج الفول السوداني ، وهي أكبر مزرعة لإنتاج زيوت بذور الفـول السـوداني في الشرق الأوسط.
وفي هذه السنة فقد تم إنتاج 7000 طن متري من الفول في مساحة مزروعـة تقـدر بـ 1020 هكتار .
إن المزرعة التي تم زراعتها بمحاصيل دورية بنجاح تعود إلى تفكير المهندس الزراعي الشيخ / تركي الفيصل الرشيد .. الذي حصل على درجته العلمية في هذا المجال من إحدى الجامعات الأمريكية .
إن الإدارة لها خطط طموحة للتوسعة بإنتاج زبده الفول السوداني وكذلك الفول المحمص والمعبأ في السنوات القادمة .
وحسب ما ذكر المهندس الشيخ / تركي الرشيد .. فإن شركته تأسست عام 1982م وبدأت في زراعة الفول السوداني عام 1988م من الدخل الذي حصل عليه من القمح والشعير.
وأضاف المهندس / تركي الرشيد .. قائلاً بأن المزرعة في هذا العام سيكون إنتاجها أفضل من إنتاجها في السنوات السابقة نظراً لأحوال الطقس الملائمة وجهود المزارعين .. وقال أيضاً أن المعدات والآليات الموجودة في المزرعة تعتبر من أحدث المعدات الموجودة في العالم .
لقد تم بناء مستودع في المزرعة في حائل بمقدوره حفظ درجة الحرارة بمعدل 25 درجة مئوية خلال فصل الصيف بينما تكون درجة الحرارة في الخارج 50 درجة مئوية .
إن حجم العمالة في المزرعة بلغت تقريباً 500 عامل من ذوي الخبرة وهم من الهند والفلبين ونيبال وسيرلانكا .
لقد زارت مجموعة من الصحفيين المزرعة في نهاية هذا الأسبوع ولقد بدا لهم أن أسلوب زراعة الفول السوداني في تلك التربة الصحراوية يعتبر أمراً مثيراً للدهشة .. وإن مدير المشروع الدكتور / كاظم خليل أشار إلى أن الظروف المناخية والتربة الرملية في منطقة حائل قد كانت مناسبة تماماً لزراعة الفول السوداني .
إن الأمر المدهش في موضوع زراعة الفول انه عندما يتم حصاد الفول فإن الأراضي الزراعية تكون مهيأة لزراعة محصول آخر .
إن زراعة الفول السوداني يعوض التربة بعناصر النيتروجين والفسفور مما تعتبر عاملاً مساعداً في زيادة خصوبة التربة مما يجعلها تصلح لزراعة محاصيل أخرى .
إن الفول السوداني محصول صيفي يحصد خلال 100 - 150 يوم من تاريخ بداية زراعته ..
يتم ري البذور بالتدريج وبانتظام بواسطة الري المحوري والذي يغطي مساحة دائرية لعدة هكتارات .. حيث تسحب هذه الرشاشات مياهها أتوماتيكيا من آبار عمقها 700 متر تتواجد في أماكن متعددة من المزرعة وذلك لتزويد الرشاشات المحورية بالماء لري الحقول .
يتم حصاد الفول السوداني مبدأياً بواسطة القلاعات التي تقتلع الفول من جذوره وتتركه على سطح الأرض .. ثم تأتي الحصادة التي تحصد الفول وتلتقطه وتزيل عنه الجذور والنباتات والأعشاب العالقة به وتلقيه بعيداً عنه .. ثم يؤخذ الفول إلى المصنع بواسطة الحصادة حيث يتم فصله وتنقيته من الحجاره والرمل بواسطة المجففات وبالتالي يتم تنظيف وتعبئة الفول السوداني في أكياس الخيش بوزن 20 كيلو غرام للفول الغير مقشور ، و 50 كغم للفول المقشور .. وذلك حسب الأحجام والمقاييس .
يرسل العمال إلى الحقول الذي تم حصادها لالتقاط الفول الذي ترك خلف الحصادة وكعامل تشجيعي لهؤلاء العمال يتم تعويضهم بدفعات إضافية عن هذا العمل الذي يقومون به لالتقاط ما تبقى من الفول كما ذكر حيث يدفع لهم ريال / كغم يتم التقاطه .
لقد ذكر الدكتور / كاظم خليل .. أن 80% من إنتاج الفول يصدر إلى الأقطار في الخارج كالأردن والبحرين واستراليا وانجلترا وهولندا والمانيا واسبانيا وفرنسا . وذكر أيضاً أنه تدور مفاوضات لتصدير الفول الى جنوب أفريقيا وأمريكا .
لقد سألنا الدكتور / حول أسعار الفول السوداني .. وقال أن السعر يتذبذب حسب معدل الإنتاج في الأقطار المنتجة له .. وقد أشار إلى أن الهند من أكبر منتجـي الفـول السوداني في العالم .. لكن المُنتجْ يُستهلك محلياً كإنتاج زيوت .. بينما الولايات المتحدة تنتج الفول للتصدير للأقطار الأخرى على شكل زبده ومكسرات .
ويقول أيضاً أنه عندما يحصل هناك تدني في إنتاج المحصول في هذه البلدان فإن سعر الفول يأخذ بالارتفاع إلى 1500 دولار أمريكي وحالياً فإن الفول يباع بسعر 1000 دولار / طن .

والله الموفق …

عبد الكريم جابر الحموز

Iraq to seek Saudi expertise
Arab News 30 December 1988


Riyadh—Iraq is willing to encourage Saudi agricultural companies in managing its farms and to benefit from Saudi experience with large, intensive cultivation, according to a leading Saudi farmer. It is also seeking Saudi Investments.

"The Iraqis are ready to provide land and extend aid in project management, "Turki Faisal Al Rasheed, president of Riyadh's Golden Grass, Inc., told Arab News. His company was represented by Faharan Al Sadeed in a 200-member delegation organized jointly by the Riyadh Chamber of Commerce and its Gulf counterpart that visited Baghdad last month.

The delegates held talks at the ministries of trade, agriculture and labor as well as with the president of Iraq's central Bank and the general manager of the Agricultural Bank. The discussions, he said, opened up the possibility of a transfer of Saudi agricultural expertise into Iraq. He hoped that the Kingdom will utilize the opportunity by extending credit facilities to the agricultural companies.

Turk cited in support of his statement a DM 200 million credit facility allowed by the GDR to enable Iraq to purchase heavy trucks, a $ 1 billion loan guarantee from the U.S. for the import of agricultural commodities from that country, and a $700 million export credit from the U.K.

He said Saudi Arabian experience on the farm front is relevant to Iraq in view of he similarity of climatic conditions. Moreover, the Kingdom has evolved a unique mix of large-scale and intensive cultivation to maximize farm output. The result is a record wheat production from 3,000 tons in 1978 to 2.5 million tons last year.

"to achieve this, the Kingdom had to spend something like SR 70 billion during the last four five-year plans and undertake a lot of research. We are thus in a commanding position to share our expertise and know how with other countries." Turki said.

Elaborating, he pointed out that some Saudi farmers are managing 1,600 hectares with just 16 employees. "With one center pivot (of 500-meter radius) we produce five million kilos of potatoes. If you multiply this figure by the hundreds of center pivots installed in the Kingdom, you have an idea of the enormous potential output of potatoes alone."

Such a high yield, according to Turki, dictates two courses of action: Exports to the Arab World, where farm output is declining, and moving into downstream projects for the processing of agricultural output. Both options are viable, he said, referring to the recent donation by the Kingdom of 200,000 tons of wheat to Egypt.

Farmers worried by dry spell in Central Region
Arab News 22 January 1997

The dry spell in Riyadh this winter may affect farmers who will be forced to keep their irrigation pumpsets running and their product cost zooming.

This is the view of Turki Faisal Al Rasheed, president of Golden Grass, Inc., who said the absence of winter showers in the Central Province is a matter of concern for Saudi Farmers. Many wheat farms and greenhouses are located in this region.

"At our Al-Haya Farm at Hail, the consumption of diesel oil is at the rate of 2,000 liters per hour. Considering the fact that there was a hike in the price of diesel oil last year year, from eight halalas to 37 halalas per liter, you can imagine the impact that this dry spell will be having on us," Al-Rasheed said. Unlike last year, when Riyadh had abundant rainfall during winter, the current season has been marked by almost a dry spell so far. There was a mild drizzle early this week which caused a drop in the temperature. But it brought no respite to the farmers who must continue to operate their pumpsets. The burden of a rise in the production cost will eventually have to be shouldered by the consumer.

Referring to the impact of this year's budget on the agricultural sector, Al Rasheed said it has had to positive impact in reviving many farms. The farm sector, he pointed out, had suddenly become liquid with the injection of SR 12 billion in back payments by the government.

According to him, the government has fixed subsidy at the rate of SR 1,500 per ton for wheat and SR 1,000 per ton for barley.

This has benefited both the farmers and the consumers, since it stabilizes the commodity prices and allows them profit margin. With wheat production standing at 1.6 million tons annually, the Kingdom has become self-sufficient in this area.

Figures released by The Saudi British Bank show that barley production is being constantly encouraged. "As a Saudi crop, Barley barely existed in 1984, with production at 7,000 metric tons, with the introduction of a guaranteed price it had reach 1.8 million metric tons by 1994 and an anticipated two million tons in 1995."

Golden Grass, Inc. Agreement with Ciba-Geigy (Novartis)

Middle East Economic Digest (MEED)
News 3 November 1989

The local Golden Grass, Inc. has signed an agreement with Ciba-Geigy (Novartis) of Switzerland to distribute locally two agro-chemical products, a fungicide and an insecticide.

Saudi role in Iraq said welcome
Riyadh Daily 26 December 1988


Riyadh--- Iraq has welcomed Saudi Arabian participation in the private sector to help restore and improve its agrarian economy.

This was stated here today by the Riyadh-based Golden Grass, Inc. (GGI) president Turki Faisal Al Rasheed representative, on his return from Baghdad, where he had met the Iraqi agriculture minister, Karim Hassan Reda and toher officials.

"Iraq needs to expand its agricultural output and improve its agro-economy, while Saudi companies have the required experience and expertise." He said, adding that a congenial atmosphere exist for Saudi participation in this area.

He said as a result of his team's talks with the agriculture ministry officials, it was clear that Iraq would appreciate Saudi investment there in assisting reclamation of agricultural land, water resources and providing other facilities in this sector. Iraq was taking big strides in rehabilitating its entire economic system including improvement in its agricultural output, he added.

Assurances of guaranteed prices were also given by the Iraqi officials to Saudi businessmen, he added.

"We know that the US Commodity Credit Corporation has extended export guarantees of $1.015 billion for increased sales of US commodities to Iraq, which will place a strain on Iraq's trade balance."

He hoped that means would be developed to allow Saudi expertise to help Iraq in overcoming its problems.

Meanwhile, Turki hoped with the sale of Coopers Animal Health, U.K. one of the major animal health firms in the world –the quality and availability of Cooper's animal products in the Kingdom would not be affected.

Golden Grass company are Cooper's sole agents in Saudi Arabia.

GGI with their experience, Turki Added, could provide their expertise to grow many varieties of vegetables, cereals and potatoes for local consumption and export to the European countries and the rest of the world.

9th Agriculture Show opens
Arab News 12 March 1990


Riyadh—Saudi Agriculture 1990, the ninth Agriculture, Irrigation and Agri-Industry show which runs from March 11 to 15r at the Riyadh Exhibition Center, was officially opened yesterday by Deputy Minister of Agriculture for Agricultural Affairs Dr. Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz Al-Moammar.

After the opening ceremony the deputy minister toured the show which is organized by the Riyadh Exhibitions Co. and features the lastest agricultural technology displays from around the world in the Kingdom's capital.

This highly successful annual event, now in the ninth year, has attracted a record 450 companies from 25 countries. "However, by far the largest single national participation this year is from Saudi Arabia with over 149 of the Kingdom's major agricultural organizations exhibiting including Golden Grass, Inc.

Crisp, Crunchy peanuts
…right here in the Kingdom, at a farm in Hail
Riyadh Daily 27 November 2006

The Golden Grass,Inc. Farm in Hail, which is the only farm in the Kingdom to produce peanuts, is also the largest oil seeds producing farm in the Middle East. This year it has nutted nearly 7,000 metric tons of these ground nuts on an area of 1,020 hectares

The farm which has been successfully cultivating a rotation of crops is the brainchild of a Saudi agricultural engineer, Turki Faisal Al Rasheed who has graduated in the field from a US University. The management has ambitious plans to expand its wings by producing peanut butter and preparing roasted, salted and blanched peanuts in the coming years.

According to Eng. Rasheed, his company which was establish in 1982, started planting groundnuts in 1988 with the income it received from wheat and barley cultivation. This year, he said, the farm was able to produce a better yield than the previous years due to conducive climatic conditions and also due to the untiring efforts of the farmers. He said that the work in the barn is being carried out with the most advanced machinery found in the world. He has even erected a warehouse in Riyadh which is capable of maintaining 25 degrees centigrade during the summer when the outside temperature would be above 50 degrees centigrade.

The workforce of the farm comprises nearly 500 expatriates who hail from India, Philippines, Nepal and Sri Lanka.

A group of journalist visited the farm last weekend. The manner in which a driving peanut cultivation was being carried on that desert soil was amazing. The farm manager Khadim Khalil pointed out that the climatic conditions and the sandy soil in the Hail region was ideally suited for groundnut cultivation.

The interesting part in the cultivation of peanuts is that when the seeds are harvested, the cultivated soil is ready to take in another cereal to be sown on the same land. The peanut cultivation produces nitrogen phosphorus in the soil and it increases the moisture capacity of the earth. On the whole, peanut cultivation produces a number of organic material which is conducive for another rotation crop.

Peanut is a summer crop which is harvested within 100 to 150 days from the time of sowing. Seedlings are watered regularly with the help of center pivots which covers a circular are of four hectares each. It draws its water automatically from a 700-meter deep tube well which is found in several points in the farm to supply water to the pivots for irrigating the fields.

The matured groundnuts are reaped with the help of a digger shaker which extricates the grown plants with the groundnuts on its roots and drops it on the surface. Then the "Peanut Combine" a machine which is expected to take the nuts, picks up the rooted plants and swallow the nuts and throws away the plants. The nuts are taken to the factory by the Combine, where they are separated from the stones and dust with the help of a dryer. Subsequently, the nuts are shelled, cleaned and packed in thick paper bags for sale. Each bag contains 20 kilograms of shelled peanuts.

Workers are sent to the harvested field to pick up the nuts that were left behind by the machines. As an incentive for these workers they are compensated with extra payments for the labor done to pick up the left overs. The workers are paid one riyal for every kilo of nuts picked.

According to Khalil 80% of the produce is exported to countries such as Jordan, Bahrain, Australia, United Kingdom, Holland, Gemany, Spain and France. Negotiations, he said are going on for the export of nuts to be sent to South Africa and the United States.

Asked about the price of peanuts, he said that it fluctuates according to the production rate in peanut cultivating countries. He pointed out that India is the largest producer of peanuts in the world, but the yield is consume locally by way of peanut oil whereas the United States production of peanuts is exported to other countries in the form of roasted nuts and peanut butter. Where there is a crop failure in these countries, the price of peanuts tends to rise upto $1,500 per metric ton.

At present, the nuts are sold at $1000 per metric ton, he added.

Kingdom starts large-scale peanut farming
Saudi Gazette 27 November 1995


Saudi Arabia has for the first time entered into peanut production at a farm in Hail which is the only one in the Mid-east region.

Buyers are already trooping in form Europe. "Just recently we sent a container to France on a trial basis, say Khalil, manager of the farm.

Peanut farming is Saudi Arabia, he notes, requires patience and strong nerves. It all depends on the weather and the international market. Last year a hail storm devastated 20 percent of the crop and the insurance company is yet to pay for the huge losses.

This year nature has been kind. But in the US, bad weather has hit the crop, plus, the demand for peanut oil has risen in India. And Golden Grass, which own the farm, expects to reap the fruits of its labour. "We are forturnate. We should be able to sell for about $700 (SR 2,618) per tonne," says Khalil.

The Golden Grass incorporated is located in Hail, about 600 km from Riyadh. The company had earlier scaled down its production of wheat and barley, which depended on allowances from the government.

"Now farming should stand alone without a heavy subsidy from the government. We have been anticipating this for many years now, and have acted accordingly, Turki Faisal Al Rasheed, a US-trained agricultural engineer.

Hail is an ideal location for farming, Water seems to be in plenty, the soil is good, and the weather is balmy this time of the year.

The area is dotted with huge farms, growing everything from wheat, barley to vegetables. Hadco and Nadec are heavily represented here. Sadia also has massive broiler farm in the region.

In the early 80's, Saudi Arabia developed a new policy of subsidies to help grow wheat for local consumption. Water depletion from the aquifers reached maximum levels.

"…These are the main reasons which forced the government change its policy to wheat subsidies," according to the company profile report. By last year wheat production in the area dropped by 80 percent, and other cereals by more than 60 percent. The government has also decreed that the total area for cereal production should not exceed 450,000 hectares. Recently, a senior government official had also remarked that Saudi Arabia does not aspire to be a wheat exporter.

The company started mainly because of the massive wheat production in the Kingdom. In 1984, it was found that the wheat crop was being heavily infested by rye grass which was reducing crop yield.
Thus, Golden Grass Agrochemical was born. With a "magic solution" called Hoegrass, from the international company Hoechst, it entered the herbicide market. Al-Rasheed notes,"….we feel it is our responsibility to help our customers with the know-how of how to grow a variety of crops and to ensure also they have a good crop."

Peanut is a delicate crop. It requires sandy soil with a PH value of 6.5, and average rainfall. It is a summer crop and planting starts in April, and harvesting can be done within 100 to 150 days, depending on the peanut variety.

One other reason this protein-rich legume was chosen for planting is that is helps fix nitrogen, increase organic material and augments the soil's water holding capacity. " It improves yield of other crops," notes the manager.

The company's farm area of 1020 hectares was found not enough, so it rented 57 pivots in the neighboring Nadec farm. Each pivot, which is a mechanized watering unit, covers a circular area of 50 to 60 hectares.

The local market demand for peanuts is 5,000 tonnes, according to Khalil, who adds that the company plans to add value to its crop by including a line for peanut butter.

This plant is already built and is waiting for finance from the Saudi Industrial Development Fund (SIDF). But the manager notes it will be competing with international players who have been in the business for the past 50 years. Within the year it plans to also set up a facility for roasted, salted and blanched peanuts.

The company had initially a tough time marketing its crop in the Kingdom and ran into losses for two to three years. But today it has a 30 percent market share with its "Virginia" and "Runner" varieities. Major international buyers are from Australia, Europe, Jordan and the UAE.

Negotiations are presently underway to export to the US and South Africa. "We want to put Saudi peanuts on the international map, "says Dr. Khalil.

Al-Haya farm begin exporting peanuts
Arab News 27 November 1995


Hail – A Saudi peanut farm has started exporting peanuts not only to the Gulf states but also Australia and Europe, while negotiations are under way with importers from South Africa and the United States.

Golden Grass, Inc. is planning to set up an SR 5 million peanut butter farm, according to Turki Faisal Al Rasheed, the company's president. The plant is expected to be funded partially by the SIDF. The company has already applied for loan for this project. Al Rasheed said the peanut farm produces some 7,000 tons per season, giving it a 30 percent market share in the Kingdom. Dr. Khadim Khalil, agricultural advisor, said the price fluctuates from high of $900 per ton to a low of $300, depending on external factors in the international market.

Golden Grass' Al-Haya Farm, which is spread over 1020 hectares, rents 57 pivots from NADEC. Each pivot is capable of irrigating 80 hectares.

Dr. Kadhim points out that the peanut crop plays an important role in the fixation of nitrogen in the soil. This makes it beneficial for the subsequent crop, like wheat or barley, cultivated by rotation. The farm is also equipped with a quality-control lab where the moisture content is monitored to ensure hat it does not exceed the bottom line of 10 percent. Describing the competition in the market as tough, Dr. Kadhim said this has weeded out the weaker players from the market. Some of the factors responsible for the market readjustment include, among other things, the escalating cost of digging water wells.

Breakthrough made in peanut output, export.
Arab News 28 July 1990

Riyadh – Saudi Arabia has achieved a breakthrough in producing and exporting high quality peanuts. The name behind this pioneering venture is Golden Grass, Inc. a Saudi agricultural company whose farm at Hail made a successful trial production of peanuts in rotation with wheat crop.

Speaking on phone from Hail, the farm's General Manager John Lawton told Arab News that they are raising two crops a year over an area of 760 hectares with a production capacity of 4,500 tons per season. Under the crop rotation program, wheat is planted in December and harvested in May, while peanuts are cultivated in May and harvested in December. Crop rotation serves to retain the fertility of the soil as well as diversifying the farm income.

Lawton said the farm's production capacity, which is at present limited, is being, utilized on the export front. Shipments have already been dispatched to some European destinations, like the Netherlands and Portugal, the marketing base for peanuts farmers from the United States, mainland China and Argentina. " Our European customers are highly satisfied with the quality of our produce and have firmed up orders for future supplies," Lawton said.

One of the advantages of peanut cultivation, according to him, is that the plants fix their own nitrogen, an important nutrient. This minimizes the use of fertilizers.

Asked what problems had to be overcome in the introduction of the peanut crops, Lawton said they related to the setting up of the center pivots, since the irrigation method is a complicated process. Harvesting is also done in two stages as the crop grows underground and has to be dried and shelled. A shelling plant at the farm will be installed soon, he added.

Cattle vaccination suggested
Arab News National
25 January 1989


Riyadh- A world renowned authority on foot-and-mouth disease of the cattle and sheep has advised farmers in the Kingdom to get their animals, including the young ones, vaccinated as per schedule and prevent the outbreak of the infection in an epidemic form. Described as a killer disease, it has already infected some dairy farms in Al-kharj, while a mass vaccination program is under way in Hail, Qassim and all other milk producing areas in the Kingdom.

The note of caution comes from Dr. Chris G. Schrembrucker, a senior-scientist with Coopers Animal Health Ltd. of Surrey (U.K.), one of the world's major producers of animal vaccines and distributed in the Kingdom by Golden Grass, Inc. of Turki Faisal Al Rasheed. Dr. Schembrucker, who was invited by the Ministry of Agriculture, inspected ten of Kingdom's largest dairy farms, besides meeting scientists from the ministry for a review of the situation.

Calling the disease highly insidious, the scientist said that it causes a sharp drop in the milk yield of the animal, alters its physiology thereby rendering it permanently sterile, and is particularly lethal to calves. "Since a cow will have a higher yield of milk only when it is in calf, you can imagine the havoc, that it plays when it is no longer in calf."

He said the situation is grim in the Al-Kharj area, "When the farmers do not follow the prescribed course of vaccination, all their cattle are bound to be infected. It is important that they use the quadrivalent vaccines to immunize their sheep and cattle against the four types of viruses that are endemic in the Arabian Peninsula."

The outbreak, according to W.A.D. McFadzean, Coopers' operations manager in the Kingdom, spreads first amoung the imported Frisian cattle which are vulnerable to the types of viruses found in this region. Non-compliance with the vaccination program triggered the growth in the viral infection. As for the loss incurred by the dairy farms, he said, it is difficult to estimate. "But five years ago, two farms in Al-Kharj suffered a loss of over SR 10 million. The cattle had to be destroyed, since they had become liability to the dairy farms.

What has made the food-and-mouth disease a serious problem worldwide, according to Dr. Schermbrucker, is the existence of the virus in seven strains or sereotypes. These are the Type O, Type A, Type C, Type Asia 1, Type SAT-1, SAT-2 and SAT-3. "Of the seven sereotypes, the Arabian Peninsular has five of these strains."

He said the problem is compounded by the fact that the disease knows no national or international boundaries. "These are strains of the F & M virus in the African continent which have a tendency to move out of it toward the European and Asian land masses. Since the Arabian Peninsula acts as a bridge connecting the two land masses, they infect the cattle population unless they are properly vaccinated. It prouduces blisters on the tongue, lips, on the udder and teats, between the toes of the feet, and around the coronary band about the hoof. Malignant forms of the disease have led to losses up to 50 percent." He added.

Wheat Crop Saver
Arab News 16 October 1989
Riyadh Roundup

Golden Grass, Inc., a leading Saudi Agro-chemical Company. Has signed an agreement with the in-Kingdom representative of Ciba-Geigy(Novartis), the Swiss multinational giant for the exclusive distribution of two major cereal crop products vital to the Kingdom's farm sector. According to James Brown, vice president of Golden Grass, Inc. (Agrochemical Division). One of the products is Tilt CB, a fungicide which is effective against a broader spectrum of wheat and barley fungal diseases and, therefore, gains a competitive edge in the market. It also effectively checks "Yellow rust," a disease feared by all Saudi farmers in view of its capacity to devastate an entire wheat harvest. The second insecticide, Brown said, is Dimecron, which is lethal to aphids, a crop pest, but harmless to such insects as ladybirds, which feed on aphids.

HERBICIDES CONTRACT AWARDED
Saudi Economic Survey
Nov. 7, 1984

Minister of Agriculture and Water, Dr. Abdulrahman Al-Sheik, has approved the award of contracts to a number of agricultural firms for the supply of herbicides chemicals and insecticides at a cost totaling to SR 42.2 Million.

The following firm will supply 20,000 liters of Hoegrass by Golden Grass, Inc. Agrochemicals. (P.O. Box 21570, Riyadh 11466 Saudi Arabia

It is noteworthy that the Ministry gives these herbicides to farmers free of charge via its various branches. It also sprays crops by helicopters, exhaust cars and manual equipment.