Jizan, February 14, 2024, During the inauguration of the International Saudi Coffee Exhibition 2024 in Jazan, Vice Minister of Environment, Water, and Agriculture, Eng. Mansour bin Hilal Al-Mushaiti, highlighted the remarkable strides made by Saudi coffee in terms of quality enhancement over the past decade. He emphasized that Saudi coffee has transcended its status as a local commodity to become globally renowned, earning recognition as one of the finest coffees worldwide.
Eng. Al-Mushaiti underscored the significance of the exhibition and its associated events and activities, which encompass farmer training sessions, workshops, and cultural and artistic gatherings. These elements play a crucial role in assisting farmers and coffee enthusiasts in the southwestern regions of Saudi Arabia in realizing their aspirations.
Providing further insights, Eng. Al-Mushaiti revealed that the southwestern sector currently hosts 2,185 coffee farms with approximately 391,160 seedlings planted. Moreover, he noted that approximately 1,109 beneficiaries in the Jazan region have availed themselves of projects and initiatives in the coffee sector, resulting in the planting of around 219,160 seedlings on their farms.
Additionally, Eng. Al-Mushaiti highlighted the substantial support extended by the Sustainable Rural Agricultural Development Program 'Rural Saudi Arabia', amounting to over SAR155 million by the end of December 2023. This support has benefitted 3,052 individuals within the coffee sector, enabling them to leverage various opportunities for growth.
Eng. Al-Mushaiti also emphasized the collaborative efforts between the Ministry and the private sector to implement diverse projects. He disclosed that until the conclusion of 2022, the Agricultural Development Fund had provided financing exceeding SAR1.9 billion in the Jazan region alone. Furthermore, there were 79 investment prospects across livestock, plant cultivation, fisheries sectors, and notably, opportunities for coffee cultivation projects.
