Environment ministry launches farmers’ festival in Rafha to advance food security objectives

The Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture’s branch in the Northern Borders Region has launched a four-day Farmers’ Market Festival in Rafha to bolster agricultural development and advance national food security objectives. The event brings together several government and non-government entities and aims to support local farmers and productive families by promoting the marketing of locally produced agricultural goods through direct sales outlets.

"To achieve Saudi Vision 2030 goals, these initiatives provide farmers with science-based advice on soil health, crop nutrition, pest and disease control, better cultivars, and post-harvest techniques," said Manzer Hussain Siddiqui, a professor at the Department of Botany and Microbiology, King Saud University. "This aims to boost productivity, resource efficiency, reduce waste, support food security and promote sustainable farming."

Festival offerings and outreach

The festival showcases the high-quality agricultural products for which Rafha is known. Pavilions display dates, vegetables, fruits, honey and other rural and food products. Organisers have coupled direct-sales opportunities with awareness and guidance programmes that highlight sustainable agricultural practices and encourage consumption of Saudi-produced goods.

• Duration and purpose: A four-day event intended to support local farmers and productive families and to increase the economic value of national products through direct marketing channels.
• Product focus: Exhibits include dates, vegetables, fruits, honey and a range of rural food products, with an emphasis on quality and local provenance.
• Education and sustainability: The festival features guidance programmes on sustainable practices designed to reduce waste and improve post-harvest handling.
• Public invitation: The ministry’s regional branch has invited the public to visit the festival and benefit from its activities, reinforcing community engagement with local producers.

Context: research, technologies and adaptation

Siddiqui explained the role of agriculture scientists and agronomists, including researchers at King Saud University, in supporting farmers through research, training, extension services and technology transfer tailored to arid environments. He emphasised practical interventions that can increase resilience and yields for crops central to Saudi agriculture, such as dates, vegetables, wheat, fruits, dairy and poultry.

Specific practices and technologies highlighted include water-saving measures like drip and smart irrigation, efficient water management and the safe use of treated wastewater. Siddiqui also urged adoption of heat-, drought- and salinity-tolerant crop varieties as well as protected-culture methods such as greenhouse and hydroponic farming to sustain and increase yields in extreme arid conditions.

Outlook

Organisers intend the festival not only as a marketplace but as a platform to accelerate the uptake of sustainable farming techniques and strengthen linkages between producers, consumers and technical experts. By increasing farmers’ access to science-based advice and direct marketing channels, the ministry aims to raise the economic value of national products, reduce post-harvest losses and support long-term food security goals aligned with Vision 2030.