RIYADH: Investing in the restoration of arid and degraded lands is a highly profitable economic investment. Every dollar spent yields direct and indirect economic benefits ranging from $7 to $30.
This highlights the significance of Saudi Arabia’s success in rehabilitating the first million hectares of its degraded arid lands, as announced at the end of March, according to the Director of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN program in the Kingdom, Nizar Haddad, in an exclusive interview with Al-Eqtisadiah newspaper.
Haddad described the Saudi announcement as an exceptional achievement, accomplished at a rate of 548 hectares per day over five years in the heart of one of the harshest desert environments, at a time when the planet is losing 100 million hectares of its healthy land annually.
The discussion touched upon the modern agricultural experience through the “Saudi Countryside” program, where the coffee, rose, and beekeeping sectors have achieved tangible successes.
These successes include a 100 percent increase in the productivity of model farms and an improvement in the quality of essential oils and organic honey.
Haddad explained that organic honey outperforms commercial honey by more than 10 times, thus eliminating competition from nectar and similar products and creating a genuine competitive advantage in high-value, specialty markets.
The discussion also addressed the structural challenges in the livestock and rainfed crop sectors, which are affected by fluctuating rainfall, the weakness or absence of genetic varieties, and low livestock breeding efficiency, as well as limited awareness of animal health, and a lack of feed diversity.
The FAO representative in the Kingdom emphasized the importance of transitioning from traditional methods to data-driven management and regular veterinary services to enhance productivity and ensure sound economic management of livestock. The following is a detailed account of the discussion.
How does the FAO assess Saudi Arabia’s success in rehabilitating the first million hectares of arid and degraded land?
From the perspective of the FAO of the UN, this achievement deserves full praise and represents a significant step in the right direction. To appreciate its true magnitude, it must be placed within its scientific and international context.
We are currently experiencing an unprecedented land degradation crisis in human history. The FAO’s latest estimates indicate that 1.66 billion hectares of land worldwide are suffering severe degradation due to human activities, and that approximately 1.7 billion people live in areas where crop yields are declining as a result.
In our Arab region alone, more than 46 million hectares of agricultural land are suffering significant degradation. Globally, our planet loses approximately 100 million hectares of healthy land annually. In the face of these formidable challenges, the Kingdom’s announcement clearly affirms that change is possible and that systematic solutions exist.
What makes this success exceptional from our perspective at FAO is not only its scale, but also that it is a rigorously scientifically documented achievement, not merely a future promise. Most importantly, this area, 1 million hectares, has been rehabilitated at a rate of 548 hectares per day, without interruption, for five consecutive years, in a desert environment that is among the harshest in the world.
What are the estimated economic returns of this rehabilitation on agricultural gross domestic product?
FAO bases its economic assessment on a scientifically proven formula tested in dozens of countries: every dollar invested in land restoration yields between $7 and $30 in direct and indirect economic benefits. Globally, FAO and the UN Environment Program estimate that rehabilitating 350 million hectares of dryland and degraded land by 2030 could generate up to $9 trillion in ecosystem services. These figures demonstrate that investing in the environment is, in essence, a sound economic investment.
But the economic impact of this achievement is no less important than its environmental impact, a fact well understood by the FAO through its field work in the region. In terms of direct agricultural production, improved soil fertility and the restoration of vegetation cover mean a tangible increase in crop yields in surrounding areas, an expansion of the area suitable for sustainable grazing, a cornerstone of the rural economy, and a revitalization of the livestock sector, which is directly linked to national food security.
On a macroeconomic level, these projects contribute to creating thousands of direct and indirect job opportunities in rangeland management, nurseries, environmental services, scientific research, and ecotourism. They also significantly reduce the costs of combating desertification and repairing the damage caused by dust storms, which, as documented by the World Bank, place a heavy economic burden on the countries of the region.
As for the future of the green economy, the rehabilitation processes result in the capture of significant quantities of carbon dioxide, opening the door to participation in the growing international carbon markets. This environmental asset can be transformed into direct financial returns that fund future expansion phases and enhance the Kingdom’s competitiveness in the global green economy.
How does reclaiming these vast areas contribute to enhancing local, regional food security?
Food security and environmental security are two sides of the same coin, inseparable, as the FAO emphasizes in all its reports and recommendations. Land degradation is now one of the most serious threats to global food security; it has led to a decline in crop productivity of 10 percent or more in areas inhabited by more than 1.7 billion people worldwide. In our Arab region specifically, land degradation poses a direct threat to food security in countries that already rely on imports for more than 50 percent of their food needs.
Rehabilitating 1 million hectares in the Kingdom contributes to enhancing food security through multiple and interconnected pathways. At the immediate local level, improved soil fertility and the restoration of vegetation cover expand the arable land and increase crop productivity in surrounding areas. A reduction in dust storms protects existing crops from the recurring damage that used to cost farmers significant annual losses. It also supports the livestock sector, which is a fundamental pillar of food security in rural and Bedouin communities.
On the level of future food security, carbon capture contributes to mitigating climate change, which is the greatest threat to global food security in the coming decades. The FAO estimates that climate change could reduce global agricultural production by up to 25 percent by 2050 if serious action is not taken. Every hectare rehabilitated today is a direct investment in the food security of future generations.
How does the Saudi Rural Development Program serve the Global Food Security Index?
In practice, this is reflected in documented indicators related to food security, including doubling cereal productivity in model farms that adopted introduced varieties, increasing coffee productivity by 100 percent with a 33 percent improvement in quality, increasing the productivity of subtropical fruits by 25 to 40 percent with a 20 percent reduction in post-harvest crop losses, increasing honey production in targeted apiaries by more than 200 percent, and improving livestock performance in terms of increased births and decreased mortality.
All of these are central to enhancing the efficiency of local food supply and strengthening rural resilience. Additionally, 5,700 workers in value chains have been trained since the project's inception, enhancing institutional and human efficiency within the rural agricultural system, a significant figure in building human capital related to food security. Collectively, these elements increase the resilience of local food supplies and bolster the Kingdom’s ability to withstand market fluctuations.
Within these sectors, which is the most active, successful? Where do the greatest challenges lie?
Looking at the documented results, the coffee, rose, and beekeeping sectors clearly stand out as the most active and successful.
In coffee, model farms recorded a 100 percent increase in productivity, from 3.5 to 7 kilograms per tree, along with a 33 percent improvement in quality. Up to 6,000 coffee seedlings were also distributed using tissue culture technology.
In roses, flower yields increased by 30 to 35 percent, and the production and quality of essential oils improved by 15 percent. Up to 30,000 rose and subtropical fruit seedlings were distributed to over 1,000 farmers.
As for beekeeping, honey production increased from 2.5 to 10 kilograms per hive annually, and 100 small-scale beekeepers received organic beekeeping certification with technical support from the program.
In terms of challenges, rainfed crops, livestock, and aquaculture/fisheries are the most vulnerable to structural challenges.
Rainfed crops are directly affected by erratic rainfall, limited water harvesting efficiency, and the scarcity or unavailability of genetic varieties among farmers. Small-scale livestock farming is impacted by poor breeding efficiency, limited awareness of animal health, lack of feed diversity, and limited understanding of economic herd management. This does not imply weakness in these sectors, but rather that their success requires more continuous extension, technical, and regulatory intervention than some other sectors.
The aquaculture and fisheries sector is still developing its supporting infrastructure components, such as hatcheries, digital auctions, and the processing of women working in the industry. This reflects significant opportunities but also ongoing development needs.
Has the FAO observed an increase in small-scale farmers' incomes since the launch of the Reef program?
Yes, and it can be accurately stated that the report identifies strong and clear indicators of improved rural incomes and economic opportunities.
The project’s activities contributed to providing direct support to approximately 622 rural agricultural projects, resulting in the creation of 935 direct job opportunities. The report also highlights the capacity building of dozens of women and small-scale producers, connecting them with funding agencies and expanding value-added activities, including the processing and marketing of agricultural, food, and rural products. These interventions are all directly linked to increasing income and improving living standards.
The report also cites a highly significant example of the success story of dried fig production and processing. One beneficiary stated that the solar drying tunnel installed on his farm enabled him to produce approximately 2,500 kilograms of dried figs, valued at SR100,000 ($26,656), within three months, in addition to drying mangoes and papayas.
This is a practical and direct example of how post-harvest support and value-added activities not only improve quality but also have a tangible impact on rural household incomes. It enabled some farmers to achieve an additional SR3 per kilogram of produce above the farm price, directly affecting marketing returns and income. These indicators signify an improvement in the economic environment and support for rural incomes.
How does FAO support the transformation of coffee, rose farming into economically viable industries?
FAO has supported this transformation by improving the quality of the production chain, from cultivation to post-harvest and primary processing. In coffee, technical support has included the introduction of tissue culture, the production of 6,000 coffee seedlings using tissue culture techniques, the implementation of a coffee quality management toolkit, and the drying of coffee cherries in a modified solar tunnel, interventions that enhance the quality and profitability of the final product.
These interventions are moving the sector from simply cultivating a raw crop to a more professional system focused on quality, processing, and value addition.
In the case of roses, the support was not limited to agricultural production, but extended to the production and distribution of 30,000 rose and subtropical fruit seedlings to more than 1,000 farmers in Taif, Abha and Al-Baha.
The analysis also documented an increase in the productivity of the flower crop by a percentage ranging between 30 and 35 percent and an improvement in the productivity and quality of essential oils by 15 percent. This means that the support was not only agricultural, but was also directed toward raising the quality of the final product and its economic return, which is the essence of the transformation into an industry with higher added value.
What are your views on the quality of Saudi honey, its competitiveness in international markets?
Project data confirms a significant improvement in the quality and productivity of Saudi honey. Honey production in targeted apiaries has increased from 2.5 to 10 kilograms per hive per year. Furthermore, 100 small-scale beekeepers have received organic beekeeping certification with technical support from the FAO.
Queen rearing and hive propagation techniques have been introduced, enabling model beekeepers to raise and supply an average of 1,000 hives annually. The technical cooperation program also offered proposals to promote Saudi honey and its use in alternative medicine, given that Saudi honey is more than 10 times more expensive than commercially available honey. Therefore, the target customer base is not those who purchase similar products like honey, nectar, or the like.
Consequently, it can be said that Saudi honey has a genuine competitive advantage, especially in the premium and high-value honey segments, as the ongoing transformation encompasses not only production volume but also organic certification, improved management, and higher technical standards.
What advice does the organization offer to livestock breeders in the Reef region to ensure a transition from traditional to modern farming systems?
The project’s field results demonstrate that the transition to modern livestock farming must be based on an integrated service package, including improved nutrition, health management, and enhanced reproduction, as well as regular technical follow-up and digitalization.
The report documents a 66 percent increase in the number of lambs/ewes per year on the targeted farms, along with a 71.4 percent decrease in mortality rates. The livestock farm service delivery model was also expanded, and 44 employees were trained in reproductive management and related technologies.
Furthermore, the “Saudi Smart Herd” mobile application was developed and updated for wider dissemination.
Therefore, the practical advice for livestock breeders is to: shift from traditional, experience-based farming to data-driven management and regular veterinary services; improve nutrition, fertility, and reproduction; and connect breeders to a continuous guidance and service package.
How can the use of rainwater be maximized for crops such as millet, maize to reduce reliance on groundwater?
The project supports this approach by promoting the cultivation of improved varieties, supplemental irrigation, and integrated farming practices. The project tested 22 new and improved grain varieties. The sorghum success story shows that one improved variety achieved a yield of 3.2 tonnes per hectare, and a subsequent crop, supported by supplemental irrigation, added approximately 2.2 tonnes per hectare within 80 days, bringing the total yield to 5.2 tonnes per hectare. This success quickly led to over 100 farmers adopting the improved varieties.
This means that maximizing the use of rainwater depends not only on rainfall but also on implementing more efficient water management systems. This involves selecting the appropriate variety, adjusting planting timing, using supplemental irrigation when necessary, and adopting good agricultural practices that increase water use efficiency and reduce production risks.
Do you think local farmers in Saudi Arabia are ready for a complete transition to organic farming?
Available data indicate a growing readiness for a gradual transition, but it does not yet suggest complete and comprehensive readiness across all sectors. The strongest indicator in this regard is the achievement of 100 small-scale beekeepers receiving organic beekeeping certification with FAO support. This is a significant accomplishment that reflects the ability of some sectors to transition to higher-standard production models. The program has also built the capacity of thousands of workers and producers and expanded the scope of improved practices and innovations.
Therefore, a more accurate answer is that a complete transition to organic agriculture still requires greater awareness and guidance, the availability of inspection and certification bodies, infrastructure, marketing organization for producers in certain value chains, and linking production to markets that absorb certified products and offer them price recognition.
What progress has the FAO observed in the supply chains, value added for the fruit, oilseed sector?
Regarding fruits, the report notes clear progress in value chains. Productivity for pomegranates, grapes, and figs increased by 25 to 40 percent in pilot farms, and post-harvest crop losses decreased by 20 percent in targeted farms.
The ministry launched an initiative to establish 11 agricultural service and marketing centers in several regions of the Kingdom. This initiative, implemented by the Riff program with technical support from the FAO, involved reviewing the design of packing and packaging stations, developing models for contract farming, and formulating branding strategies.
These initiatives all indicate a shift in focus from mere production to improved marketing, added value, and enhanced market access.
