60 years after its formation the bilateral collaboration between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the FAO, proves successful for the nation’s food security and the diversification of its economy.

“Our longstanding collaboration with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia represents an actual model of partnership to boost agriculture sustainable development” says Abdessalam Ould Ahmed, FAO Assistant Director General and Representative for the Near East and North Africa. “From fish farming to integrated farming systems, from animal resources to crop protection, the partnership clearly shows how it is possible to sustainably intensify agriculture production while conserving and managing scarce natural resources” he adds.

The technical co-operation between FAO and the Ministry of Agriculture started in 1950 and since then, has slowly but constantly contributed to the transformation of traditional agriculture in Saudi Arabia into a modern industry that plays a significant role in the economy of the country.

"The strong commitment of our government to make agriculture a key contributor to the national GDP, together with the inter-sectoral expertise of FAO, have been the main ingredients of this partnership that, through the years, has been successful in finding sustainable solutions to the many challenges agriculture development faces in the Kingdom”. says Dr. Khalid Al Fuhaid, Undersecretary of the Ministry for Agricultural Affairs, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

“Now the country has almost achieved self – sufficiency in the production of dates and milk, while the sufficiency rates in the production of vegetables (80%), fruits (60%) and fish (59%) are very high, we all know that this has been possible also thanks to the solid collaboration with FAO” he comments.

The agricultural week was held in Cairo from 8 to 10 April and brought together officers from the Saudi Ministry for Agricultural Affairs.