JEDDAH: Saudi Arabia’s agricultural sector contributed $31.5 billion to the country’s gross domestic product in 2024, driven by rising production and initiatives that strengthened food self-sufficiency, according to official data.
Total agricultural and food production exceeded 16 million tonnes last year, reflecting progress toward building resilient, sustainable food systems, the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture said in a release.
Despite roughly 90 percent of the country being desert, Saudi Arabia has expanded domestic crop production and reduced reliance on imports. The Kingdom has already reached full self-sufficiency in dates, fresh dairy products, and table eggs.
Speaking at the 42nd Saudi Agriculture Exhibition in Riyadh, Ali Al-Zahrani, director of MEWA’s National Agriculture Strategy Implementation Department, said the sector has grown at a compound annual rate of more than 7 percent over the past five years.
Al-Zahrani said the country’s agriculture strategy has played a key role in developing Saudi Arabia’s agricultural sector and addressing major challenges over the past years, including water scarcity, harsh climatic conditions, low productivity in certain areas, and difficulties in marketing and distributing agricultural products.
“He explained that the strategy sets clear objectives to ensure the sustainability of the agricultural sector and enhance its contribution to food security, economic growth, and social and environmental development,” the release added, citing the official.
Al-Zahrani added that this is achieved through the effective management of natural resources, adoption of innovative agricultural technologies, protection of farming systems and food safety, empowerment of small farmers, as well as the development of national capacities and expansion of investments and international partnerships.
He pointed out that the ministry has launched 38 pioneering national initiatives under the strategy, including 11 to boost agricultural productivity, and five to restructure the sector and build capabilities, as per the ministry’s statement.
The strategy includes five initiatives to support sustainable rural development programs, another five to strengthen plant and animal health under a One Health approach, and four to build resilient and sustainable food systems.
Three initiatives, the official added, focus on enhancing natural resource sustainability and climate adaptation, while three others aim to improve marketing and agricultural services.
In addition, two initiatives are designed to protect local products and promote exports, further supporting the sector’s growth and contribution to Saudi Arabia’s food security and economic development goals.
He added that the implementation of efficient irrigation systems has reduced the use of non-renewable water in agriculture by 52 percent compared with 2016, while soft agricultural loans from the Agricultural Development Fund have exceeded $1.9 billion.
He highlighted investment opportunities for the private sector in plant and animal production, including integrated seed and seedling production projects, fruit and vegetable processing, intensive livestock farming, aquaculture, and large-scale poultry production.
Al-Zahrani noted that the total domestic fruit production, including dates, surpassed 2.9 million tonnes, achieving 64 percent self-sufficiency, while vegetable production exceeded 3.5 million tonnes, reaching 78 percent self-sufficiency, with significant expansion of greenhouse systems alongside traditional open-field farming.
The statement concluded that the ministry continues to offer incentives, including streamlined land rental and simplified licensing, to encourage investment and the adoption of innovative, sustainable agricultural practices.
