The Sustainable Agricultural Rural Development Program (Saudi Reef) announced continued progress on five development projects for the Arabica coffee sector in Jazan, Aseer, and Al-Baha, with a total value exceeding SAR111 million, scheduled for completion and handover before the end of this year.
Saudi Reef spokesperson Majed Al-Buraikan said the projects include establishing coffee processing and preparation factories, model nurseries, and alternative coffee farms to develop Arabica coffee cultivation and expand output through sustainable agricultural practices and modern farming technologies. He added that these efforts strengthen Saudi Arabia’s position as a producer of Arabica coffee, with annual production exceeding 1,800 tons.
Project completion rates have reached 100% for the alternative model farms in Jazan, 82% for the model coffee nurseries in Jazan, Aseer, and Al-Baha, and 49% for the coffee processing factory in Al-Baha. The projects include three initiatives in Jazan, among them a coffee processing factory in Al-Dayer Governorate, alongside two additional factories in Aseer and Al-Baha.
Al-Buraikan emphasized that the factories and model farms will improve product quality through post-harvest technologies, support farmers, expand high-quality seedling production, increase farmers’ incomes, reduce rural migration, and utilize harvested rainwater to irrigate coffee seedlings on mountain agricultural terraces in Jazan.
Source: Riyadh Daily