Saudi medical volunteers help to combat blindness in Bangladesh
Between June 2 and 14, the Saudi aid organization helped 5,282 patients, carrying out 3,618 consultations and 502 cataract surgeries
Updated 21 June 2022
YASSMIN JABRI
RIYADH: Medical volunteers working with Saudi Arabia’s King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center, also known as KSrelief, treated 5,282 patients in Bangladesh between June 2 and June 14 as part of the organization’s mission to combat blindness in the country.
During the project, in Joypurhat, they carried out 3,618 medical consultations, 502 cataract surgeries, and provided 1,162 patients with glasses.
KSrelief is a leading international humanitarian organization that helps people and communities in 84 countries. This year, it signed a joint agreement to implement campaigns to combat blindness and its causes in eight countries: Bangladesh, Cameroon, Niger, Nigeria, Sudan, Sri Lanka, Yemen and Morocco.
The center previously completed a project to tackle blindness in Bangladesh in 2019, during which 6,700 patients were examined and 717 surgeries performed. Since 2017 it has taken part in a number of similar initiatives in Cameroon, Pakistan, Morocco, Senegal, Gabon, Congo, Yemen, Nigeria, Sudan and Chad.
Experimental farm in Al-Lith looks into future of Saudi Arabian agriculture
Research initiative reflects strategic transformation
Updated 02 February 2026
SPA
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.
A view of the experimental farm in Al-Lith. (SPA)
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.
