Saudi Arabia launches farm initiatives
Arab News

21 March 2010
RIYADH: The Kingdom launched on Saturday seven new initiatives for sustainable development in the agricultural sector in the presence of Finance Minister Ibrahim Al-Assaf and Agriculture Minister Fahd Balghunaim in Riyadh.

The initiatives include the establishment of a national information center for agriculture, rationalization of water use in irrigation, establishment of one or more bodies for handling and marketing vegetables and fruits, cooperative insurance for the animal sector, marketing of dates, establishment of a breeding livestock company, and establishment of an entity for marketing fish and shrimps both in and out of the Kingdom.

The aim of the initiatives is to transform the current challenges in the agriculture sector into investment opportunities and promote development to ensure permanent income for farmers and help stabilize food security in the Kingdom. The initiatives are geared at producing safe and quality agricultural products and making them available at reasonable prices to benefit both farmers and consumers.

In his brief speech, Al-Assaf said the initiatives cover all aspects of the agriculture sector, including livestock, poultry and fish. In addition, he explained that the new system would supply production and marketing information on agricultural products for both consumers and producers.

Abdullah Rubaiian, chairman of the Agriculture Development Fund, said that the new program of initiatives are designed for the rational use of water in cultivation and to help large and small farms to improve their yield using modern methods. He pointed out that wheat forms only 10 percent of total agricultural production, whereas wheat consumes two thirds of the total water used for agricultural plantation in the Kingdom. "The new initiatives, will not only help small farmers but will also assist them to work in cooperation with the related government organizations."

He also said that the new program will emphasize on the need for deployment of nationals in the agricultural sector. He said the interest of local farmers is imperative for the project's successful implementation.
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By Md Rasooldeen

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