RIYADH: Economy and Planning Minister Mohammed Al-Tuwaijri on Wednesday said March 17, 2020, will be the start date for the Kingdom’s fifth General Census of Population, Housing and Establishments.
Al-Tuwaijri, who is also chairman of the board of directors of the General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT), made the announcement during his speech at the inauguration ceremony of the 2020 census.
Dr. Fahd Al-Sahefi, head of GASTAT, addressed the importance of the census and reviewed efforts to prepare for it.
As part of the preparations, GASTAT organized a forum, which included workshops, to raise awareness about the importance of the census.
The census will provide a broad base of data to be used as a reliable basis for conducting studies and research required by the Kingdom’s development programs and plans.
The census will also provide statistical data and indicators to measure changes in population characteristics, and to conduct local, regional and international comparisons.
Saudi Arabia conducted its first official census in 1974, the second in 1992, the third in 2004 and the fourth in 2010. As of the last census, the Kingdom’s population was 27,136,977.
2020 Saudi census announced
2020 Saudi census announced
- March 17, 2020 will be the start date for the census
Experimental farm in Al-Lith looks into future of Saudi Arabian agriculture
- Research initiative reflects strategic transformation
JEDDAH: An experimental farm in Saudi Arabia’s Al-Lith Governorate is one of the research initiatives reflecting the strategic transformation taking place in the Kingdom’s agricultural sector.
The farm uses highly efficient, sustainable production models that combine scientific research with commercial application, contributing to strengthening the country’s food security system and the sustainability of water resources.
Located in the Ghumaiqa Center on an area of about 10 hectares, the cutting-edge farm is a testing platform for modern agricultural technologies that tackle the challenge of water scarcity.
The farm includes developed open fields and modern greenhouses, supported by smart irrigation encompassing drip and sprinkler irrigation alongside surface and subsurface technologies.
All the systems operate via smart controls that enable the monitoring of water consumption and ensure improved efficiency, thereby achieving a balance between agricultural production and water conservation.
The farm also uses treated and diluted low-salinity seawater.
It aims to diversify agricultural water sources, reduce reliance on freshwater, and open new horizons for agriculture in coastal and semi-arid environments.
The project represents a promising investment opportunity in the field of smart agriculture, enabling the development of commercially scalable production models, particularly for high-value vegetables and fruits, while reducing operational costs associated with water and energy, enhancing the economic feasibility of future agricultural projects.
In addition, the project contributes to transferring and localizing agricultural expertise, supporting local food supply chains, and creating an attractive environment for agricultural investment.
This aligns with Sustainable Development Goals and enhances the efficiency of the private sector in adopting innovative agricultural solutions.
Yahya bin Abdulrahman Al-Mahabi, the director of the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture office in Al-Lith Governorate, told the Saudi Press Agency that the project represented the future of agriculture in the Kingdom.
He explained that the vision was based on investing in technology, enhancing the return on water per unit, and integrating scientific research with investment opportunities.
Al-Mahabi spoke of the experimental farm as a modern, scalable and replicable model applicable in several regions of the Kingdom, particularly in coastal environments.
Al-Mahabi highlighted the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture’s commitment to supporting distinctive projects that contributed to achieving food security while developing rural areas and enhancing agricultural production efficiency, in line with the objectives of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030.
