RIYADH: The Agricultural Development Fund (ADF) revealed plans to fund 70 percent of the total cost of projects launched as part of the Fish Farming Support Program on Monday.
The announcement came during the “Investing in Fish Farming” workshop, run by the Riyadh Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Committee on Agriculture and Food Security and the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture.
Saudi Arabia has the potential to become the world’s leading countries in fish farming.
The strategies of the ADF to promote the sector, meanwhile, have also given it advantages over regional competitors, with the Kingdom’s aquaculture production set to reach 970,000 tons per year by 2029.
A paper on fish farming at the workshop though, presented by Saud Al-Otaibi, aquaculture consultant at Coral Coast Co., showed that the country still imports three times as much fish as it produces. It stated that global fisheries production is set to reach 181 million tons by 2022, highlighting the demand for fish and, by extension, the viability of investment in the sector, but also raising questions over issues of sustainability, professional training, quality control and competition from other markets.
Fund to support 70% of fish farming projects in Saudi Arabia
Fund to support 70% of fish farming projects in Saudi Arabia
- Global fisheries production is set to reach 181 million tons by 2022.
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.
