JEDDAH: Details have been released of the Kingdom’s first “coffee city,” a project started about three years ago in Baha that is designed to boost production and strengthen the local economy.
According to a report by broadcaster Al Arabiya, more than 527,000 seedlings have been planted at the site which covers about 170 hectares and once completed is expected to produce about 2,000 tonnes of coffee a year.
The project is expected to give a major boost to the country’s coffee supply chain and provide new export opportunities. It will also create about 100 jobs for farmers, technicians and supervisors, and indirectly support opportunities in logistics, operations and marketing.
Mohammed Abbas, a coffee grower in Baha, said: “This city has been established and operating for nearly three years.
Mohammed Abbas, a coffee grower in Baha. (Supplied)
“Baha has always aimed to be at the forefront of agricultural production in Saudi Arabia. It plays a key role in supplying domestic and international markets and is moving toward an annual production target of 10,000 tonnes through six coffee cities.”
Four of the the development contracts had been awarded — to local and international companies — while the other two were still at the tendering phase, he said.
“The Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture, through its Baha branch, continues to create major investment opportunities in the coffee sector,” Abbas said.
The Baha coffee city is in Ma’shouqa, which is home to more than 450 coffee farms and some 115,000 coffee trees producing several premium varieties.
Al-Mohanad Al-Marwai, co-founder and CEO of the Arabic Coffee Institute, told Arab News that Baha had always positioned itself as one of the country’s leading agricultural regions and played a key role in local and international supply chains.
“These efforts include creating investment opportunities in the coffee sector, establishing the Baha Coffee Association to support smallholder farmers and launching an initiative to plant 1 million coffee trees by 2030,” he said.
“Together, these initiatives help strengthen Saudi Arabia’s domestic coffee production, increase the sector’s contribution to the national economy and support the goals of Saudi Vision 2030.”
He said that Saudi coffee had made significant progress in recent years, based on his company’s experience in sourcing, evaluating, trading and promoting it.
“Beyond increasing production, the future of Saudi coffee depends on continuous improvements in quality, processing, education, sustainability and market access.”
Efforts such as exhibitions, competitions, educational initiatives and commercial partnerships had helped to connect the Kingdom’s coffee producers with international buyers, roasters, traders, educators and industry leaders, Al-Marwai said.
“Creating sustainable market demand is just as important as increasing production,” he said.
“Farmers need access to profitable markets, buyers need confidence in quality and consistency, and the industry needs continued investment across the entire value chain.”
The growth of the sector was a reflection of the strong collaboration between farmers, government entities, industry organizations and the private sector, he said.
“The next step is to position Saudi Arabia not only as a coffee-producing nation but also as a globally recognized coffee origin known for quality, authenticity and innovation.”
