KSA achieves 63pc self-sufficiency in value-added agriculture sector

RIYADH, Aug 02 (Arab News): The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) has reached a 63 per cent self-sufficiency rate in the value-added agriculture sector following the drive of the state-run Sustainable Agricultural Rural Development Program, also known as Reef, to ensure food security in the Kingdom. The program, introduced in 2019 to boost the processing and marketing of food produce, has increased and diversified the Kingdom's agricultural production.
Besides supporting 63,000 agricultural projects in the Kingdom, the initiative has helped manage the local markets and lessen the impact of fluctuations in food prices worldwide.
According to an infographic released by Reef on Wednesday, the Kingdom's coffee industry achieved a self-sufficiency rate of 16 per cent, producing 1,009 tons of coffee in 2023. The goal is to reach 7,000 tons by 2026.
Fruits reached a self-sufficiency rate of 22 per cent, producing 90,000 tons this year. Reef expects food production to reach 305,000 tons in 2026.
Rose and aromatic plants realized 33 per cent self-sufficiency as Reef planted 651 million roses.