Surrounded by desert, Saudi Arabia has reduced its importing expenditure by cultivating food on bare land.
Speaking to The National News, chairperson of the department of agriculture and livestock in Sharjah, Dr Khalifa Alteneji said what used to be a desert in Mleiha has transformed into farming land.
Approximately 400 hectares of former desert land are expected to produce 1 700 tonnes of wheat next year when the harvest season starts. The goal is to reduce the amount of imported food in the country which is said to stand at 90%.
According to Alteneji, they look at how best they can use the available land to produce food for the community and boost the economy.
“The wheat will be going to the local market here, in Sharjah and the United Arab Emirates. We are expecting that the produce will be available in markets around next May or June,” he said.
Technology to the rescue
With no background in farming, Alteneji said the project, in its starting phase, was challenging. They had no expertise or technology to help them to do proper planning.
The farm uses state-of-the-art technologies to help monitor the weather and soil conditions.
One sensor is used to measure the quantity of water in the soil to avoid water wastage. There is also on-site weather predicting equipment, so when rain is forecasted the farm cuts down on irrigation to save water.
Satellite technologies are also used to monitor the fields and check the state of the crops.
Reducing the number of imports
Saudi Arabia today exports wheat, dates, dairy products, eggs, fish, poultry, fruits, vegetables, and flowers to markets around the world.
The private sector has played a major role in the country’s agricultural development.
This is mostly due to government programmes that offered long-term, interest-free loans, and technical and support services. As well as incentives such as free seeds and fertilisers, low-cost water, fuel and electricity, and duty-free imports of raw materials and machinery.
Infrastructure preparations
Saudi Arabia is a desert country with no permanent rivers or lakes and very little rainfall. Water is scarce and extremely valuable, and with the country’s rapid growth, the demand for water is increasing.
Over the years, a network of dams has been built in Saudi Arabia to trap and utilise precious seasonal floods. Vast underground water reservoirs also exist.
Furthermore, across Saudi Arabia desalination plants have been built to produce fresh water from the sea for urban and industrial use, thus freeing other sources for agriculture.
Facilities have also been put into place to treat urban and industrial runoff for agricultural irrigation.
Government on board
To raise farm productivity, the government also funds and supports research projects aimed at producing new food crops to increase harvest and develop plant strains with greater resistance to pests.
These programmes are conducted in cooperation between local farmers and scientists at agricultural research facilities at Saudi Arabian universities and colleges.
READ NEXT: Grab indaba tickets before they’re gone!
Sign up for Mzansi Today: Your daily take on the news and happenings from the agriculture value chain.
