Saudi Gazette Report

RIYADH — Dates and shrimp achieved the highest self-sufficiency rates among the Saudi plant and animal products respectively during the year 2023, according to the Food Security Statistics Bulletin 2023, published by the General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT) on Sunday.

Dates achieved the highest self-sufficiency rate of plant products in Saudi Arabia for 2023, reaching 119%, followed by figs and eggplant at 107% each, and cucumbers at 102%. Zucchini came with a self-sufficiency rate of 100% while potatoes achieved a self-sufficiency rate of 87%, tomatoes 76%, whereas the self-sufficiency rate of onions reached 51%.

The bulletin indicated that shrimp achieved the highest self-sufficiency rate among animal products in Saudi Arabia for 2023, reaching 147%, followed by dairy products at 129%, and table eggs at 100%. As for meat, the self-sufficiency rate of poultry meat reached 71%, and red meat 61%. As for fish, it recorded a self-sufficiency rate of 48%.

It was also found that the per capita share of the total supply available for consumption, where rice reached the highest rate of plant products in Saudi Arabia for 2023, reaching 45.77 kg/year, followed by dates at a rate of 38.58 kg/year, then tomatoes at a rate of 22.25 kg/year, and the per capita share of onions and potatoes recorded 17.52 kg/year and 16.08 kg/year respectively.

As for fruits, the per capita share of bananas reached 11.31 kg/year and oranges 10.64 kg/year, while the per capita share of coffee was 2.61 kg/year. As for animal products, the per capita share of milk reached the highest rate, reaching 70.19 liters/year, followed by poultry meat at a rate of 43.40 kg/year, and the per capita share of eggs was 246 eggs/year and red meat was 10.80 kg/year.

It is noteworthy that the Food Security Statistics Bulletin 2023 provides comprehensive data on the four dimensions of food security: availability, access, stability, and utilization.

The bulletin was based on survey data and statistical bulletins issued by the General Authority for Statistics, and data from Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture, the General Authority for Food Security, and the Agricultural Development Fund.