RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture (MEWA) has increased local production of banana seedlings through tissue culture and propagation of several varieties suitable for the Kingdom’s climate, especially in Jazan, Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported on Wednesday.
This initiative is proof of the ministry’s commitment to supporting Saudi Vision 2030 through promoting self-sufficiency, contributing to GDP growth, and achieving sustainable development, as well as its focus on sustainable agriculture and food security.
The ministry’s centre for plant tissue culture and biotechnology has successfully cultivated high-quality, disease-free seedlings both in greenhouses and in open fields. This achievement has significant implications for the agricultural sector, as it boosts sustainability and productivity.
According to the ministry, local production attracts investors in tissue culture technology. This investment aims to intensify the production of all varieties with high nutritional
value, which leads to high economic return.
Importing seedlings incurs significant economic loss, of approximately 25 percent compared to the locally produced seedlings, the ministry said.
To address this issue, the ministry has launched the first phase of two initiatives: to plant 45 million fruit trees on agricultural terraces and four million lemon trees using renewable water by 2030. These initiatives are part of the Saudi Green Initiative, conducted in collaboration with private sector institutions and the Agricultural Development Fund.
The focus on local production, with a much lower predicted loss rate, promises a more sustainable and cost-effective approach to fruit cultivation, said the SPA report.
Source: Emirates News Agency