SAUDI ARABIA: Citrus fruit takes centre stage at an exhibition of the kingdom's agricultural produce on World Food Day

Record ID: 188797

  • Title: SAUDI ARABIA: Citrus fruit takes centre stage at an exhibition of the kingdom's agricultural produce on World Food Day
  • Date: 20th October 2011
  • Summary: RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA (OCTOBER 16, 2011) (REUTERS) INFORMATION PANEL FOR AGRICULTURE CULTIVATION OF CITRUS IN THE CITY OF NAJRAN/CITRUS FRUIT SAUDI MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE, DR.FAHAD BALGHUNAIM, AND GUESTS FROM THE WORLD FOOD PROGRAM (WFP) AND THE FOOD AND AGRICULTURE ORGANISATION (FAO) LISTENING TO EXPLANATION ABOUT CITRUS DELEGATION LISTENING TO DIRECTOR OF THE HORTICULTURE DEVELOPMENT RESEARCH CENTRE, ALI AL JALIL, EXPLAINING THE QUALITIES OF CITRUS PRODUCED IN NAJRAN CITY ORANGES FROM NAJRAN ON DISPLAY (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) DIRECTOR OF THE HORTICULTURE DEVELOPMENT RESEARCH CENTRE, ALI AL JALIL, SAYING: "Saudi Arabians are big consumers of citrus fruits, and we are categorised as the eighth highest country in the consumption of citrus fruits." JALIL SHOWING A TYPE OF CITRUS WHICH GROW WITHOUT SEEDS INSIDE JALIL EATING CITRUS GRAPEFRUITS ON DISPLAY (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) DIRECTOR OF THE HORTICULTURE DEVELOPMENT RESEARCH CENTRE, ALI AL JALIL, SAYING: "Saudi farmers, especially in the desert areas and semi-desert areas, could have high production levels (of citrus fruits), and could compete with even the countries that specialise in (citrus) production, specifically Israel. It is possible for us to compete strongly in this field because we have high production and high quality." VISITORS TOURING AGRICULTURE EXHIBITION AT THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE BANNER READING IN ARABIC: THE KINGDOM OF SAUDI ARABIA DONATES 50 MILLION DOLLARS, SAVING THOUSANDS OF SOMALI CHILDREN COORDINATOR OF FAO IN SAUDI ARABIA, DR.ABDULLAH WAHBI, LOOKING AT AN OLIVE TREE OLIVE AND OLIVE OIL ON DISPLAY (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) COORDINATOR OF FAO IN SAUDI ARABIA, DR.ABDULLAH WAHBI, SAYING: "Date production is a big problem in the region as a whole, for most countries in the Middle East and North Africa. We produce six million tonnes of dates, but we do not export more that five percent of this to the global market. We have an abundance of production and a lack of marketing." BALGHUNAIM AND DELEGATES LISTENING TO AN EXPLANATION ON OLIVE AND OLIVE PRODUCTION IN SAUDI ARABIA. (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) SAUDI MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE, DR.FAHAD BALGHUNAIM, SAYING: "To safeguard national interests, we say to the farmers: We must decrease the areas used to grow crops which consume a lot of water, and these are grains and green fodder. These crops consume a lot of water and we have to reduce their cultivation." DELEGATES TASTING OLIVE OIL OLIVES AND OLIVE OIL ON DISPLAY SCREEN PROJECTION READING IN ARABIC: SIGNING OF A MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING BETWEEN THE KINGDOM OF SAUDI ARABIA, REPRESENTED BY THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE, AND THE WORLD FOOD PROGRAM DOCUMENTS BEING SIGNED FOR A TWO MILLION DOLLAR AID AGREEMENT FOR PALESTINE REPRESENTATIVE OF SAUDI MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND DIRECTOR OF GENERAL ADMINISTRATION-WORLD FOOD PROGRAM, AMEER ABDULLAH SHAKING HANDS AND EMBRACING. PEOPLE ATTENDING CEREMONY, SEATED (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) DIRECTOR OF GENERAL ADMINISTRATION-WORLD FOOD PROGRAM, AMEER ABDULLAH, SAYING: "With today's signing, we will donate to the children and women in Palestine two million dollars. The programme not only provides food, but helps agricultural development in this good country, Palestine." AUDIENCE APPLAUDING
  • Embargoed: 4th November 2011 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Saudi Arabia, Saudi Arabia
  • Country: Saudi Arabia
  • Topics: Business,Environment,Industry,Lifestyle
  • Reuters ID: LVA50X6FIYF42VZW42XOHJDWSSQT
  • Story Text: Saudi produce was on display in Riyadh on Sunday (October 16) as part of international World Food Day celebrations.
    At an exhibition held by the Saudi Ministry of Agriculture, Saudi citrus fruit was among the produce recognised for making a significant contribution to the kingdom's agricultural industry.
    The director of the Ministry's Horticultural Development Research Centre was particularly proud of the citrus fruit being produced in the desert city of Najran in the south-west of the country.
    He said said citrus is much-loved in Saudi Arabia.
    "Saudi Arabians are big consumers of citrus fruits, and we are categorised as the eighth highest country in the consumption of citrus fruits," he said.
    While desert conditions are not ideal for growing citrus, the Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) says the centre, which specialises in citrus production, has helped Najran produce tens of thousands of tonnes of fruit a year.
    And Jalil says these production levels could grow even higher.
    "Saudi farmers, especially in the desert areas and semi-desert areas, could have high production levels (of citrus fruits), and could compete with even the countries that specialise in (citrus) production, specifically Israel. It is possible for us to compete strongly in this field because we have high production and high quality," he said.
    He credits Saudia Arabia's advanced technology and scientific development for its ability to compete with countries that have more suitable growing conditions.
    But the kingdom's FAO co-ordinator Dr. Abdullah Wahbi said more work needed to be done in promoting Saudi produce abroad.
    "Date production is a big problem in the region as a whole, for most countries in the Middle East and North Africa. We produce six million tonnes of dates, but we do not export more that five percent of this to the global market. We have an abundance of production and a lack of marketing," he said.
    The Saudi Agriculture Minister Dr. Fahad Balghunaim said there needed to be a change of focus in the country's agricultural production.
    "To safeguard national interests, we say to the farmers: We must decrease the areas used to grow crops which consume a lot of water, and these are grains and green fodder. These crops consume a lot of water and we have to reduce their cultivation," he said.
    As part of the World Food Day programme the Agricultural Ministry signed an agreement that would see the kingdom donate two million US dollars to agricultural development in the Palestinian territories.
    "The programme not only provides food, but helps agricultural development in this good country, Palestine," said the World Food Programme's Ameer Abdullah.
    Saudi Arabia has donated to the World Food Programme since its inception in 1963.
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