RIYADH: The very best and hottest types of peppers can be found at the fourth Shaqra Pepper Festival, which runs from July 28 to Aug. 6.
As well as various varieties being on display, farmers from the area will be on hand to talk to and educate members of the public about their crops.
Shaqra produces around 78 percent of Saudi Arabia’s peppers and the festival will include experts offering guidance to entrepreneurs and farmers on the best practices for both high-quality crop production and processing methods.
There will also be competitive classes to determine the best model pepper farm, product, and largest pepper tree.
Of particular interest will be the hot pepper, also known as “Habhar Shaqra,” which is considered among the finest and most popular variety in Saudi and Gulf markets.
The hot pepper can be grown both in open fields and greenhouses, with large, high-quality yields offering the best economic returns.
Key times for pepper farming in the Kingdom are April, October and November, while greenhouse growing takes place from late August to early September. The peppers can be harvested after around 120 days, with annual production amounting to some 119,700
According to the report, harvest time comes after 120 days. The Kingdom’s annual pepper production is 119,700 tonnes.
A total area of around 3,167 are given over to pepper production in various provinces. Riyadh leads the way with an annual yield of 65,796 tonnes in Shaqra, followed by Tabuk (10,484 tonnes), Qassim (9,045 tonnes), Eastern Province (8,871), Jazan (7,347), Najran (5,548), Makkah (4,675), Madinah (3,198), Al-Baha (2,331), Hail (1,155), Asir (773), Al-Jouf (357) and the Northern Borders (100).
Chile peppers are a widely used ingredient in many recipes and also a popular snack. Capsaicin, an extract of the plant, is used in the manufacture of pain relief and offers health benefits such as helping to lower cholesterol and blood sugar levels. It is also used to make pepper spray, such as that used in tear gas.
