Saudi Gazette report

RIYADH -- Dr. Abdullah Aba Al-Khail, spokesperson of the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture, has said that many agricultural companies in the private sector have completed the procedures and obtained travel permits to ensure continued supply of agricultural products.

He said the ministry has launched a special online page for farmers, livestock keepers, beekeepers, and horse owners, to obtain temporary movement permit in cities and governorates where there is 24-hour curfew lockdown in force. The permit is being issued once a week.

Aba Al-Khail stated that the ministry was in touch with farmers throughout the Kingdom on a regular basis to ensure they have adequate supply of products, and to know their future plans according to the agricultural seasons, with emphasizing their vital and important role in contributing to food security. “Farmers in various regions of the Kingdom are preparing to harvest 177,000 ton of onions during the coming period, and this will contribute to the abundance of supply,” he said noting that the ministry was working with the Ministry of Commerce and Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs through field teams across the Kingdom to take into account of the abundance of agricultural products, and to know the status of supply and demand.

Dr. Aba Al-Khail stressed that vegetable and animal quarantine facilities continue their work in clearing the agricultural and animal products imported into the Kingdom through 28 land, sea and air entry points, and the total quantity of fresh agricultural products that are allowed in since the beginning of April exceeded 183,000 ton, in addition to importing nearly 100,000 heads of cattle from five countries.

He drew attention to the fact that despite the Kingdom achieving self-sufficiency rate of more than 116 percent of eggs, some negative practices in the market has resulted in a lack of supply, and hence the ministry has worked out a plan to import huge quantities of eggs from five countries.

The ministry appreciated the efforts of local egg producers and their willingness to raise production capacity by 24 percent during the coming period, and these steps contributed to the stability of the market.

He said the Saudi Grains Organization (SAGO) has invited bids to purchase wheat from Saudi investors abroad to supply 355,000 ton of wheat, representing 10 percent of the Kingdom's wheat needs during the current year of 2020, in addition to the quantities to be purchased from local producers as well as the quantities planned to be imported this year with the aim of covering local needs and maintaining its strategic stocks.

“SAGO has also completed the award of bids for the third batch to import of 600,000 ton of feed barley, bringing the total quantities contracted this year to 2.7 million ton, and the arrival of ships was scheduled before the end of next August, to cover the local demand and maintain the strategic stocks,” he said while indicating that 14 ships of wheat and barley are being anchored in all ports of the Kingdom, with 844,000 ton of products.