MANARAT AL-RIYADH INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL

SOCIAL STUDIES (SSA) // SUMMARY SHEET 1 (2022-23)

NAME: ________________________________ GRADE: 9

DATE: _________________________________

Agriculture and Fishing in Saudi Arabia

During the 1970s and 1980s, the government undertook a massive restructuring of agriculture in
Saudi Arabia. The stated objectives were food security through self-sufficiency and improvement of rural
incomes. Although successful in raising domestic output of several important crops and foodstuffs
through the introduction of modern agricultural techniques, the agricultural development program has
not entirely achieved these objectives.

In regard to self-sufficiency, the kingdom produced a limited surplus, sufficient to export some
quantities of food. However, if the entire production process was considered, the import of fertilizers,
equipment, and labor have made the Kingdom even more dependent on foreign inputs to bring food to
the average Saudi household.

Land farms widely spread in the kingdom's oases, valleys and plains; such as Tehama plains. Over
the past decade, the agriculture in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has drastically improved. Although
Saudi Arabia is widely thought of as a desert, it has regions where the climate has favored agriculture.

The government in particular has aided with this process by converting large areas of desert into
agricultural fields. By implementing major irrigation projects and adopting large scale mechanization,
this has progressed in developing agriculture in Saudi Arabia, adding previously barren areas to the
stock of cultivatable land.

Today, agriculture in Saudi Arabia is focused on the export of wheat, dates, dairy products, eggs,
fish, poultry, fruits, vegetables and flowers to markets around the world. The government is heavily
involved in the agriculture industry, and the ministry of agriculture is primarily responsible for the
agricultural policies in the kingdom.
The private sector as well plays a role, as the government offers long-term interest free loans, along
with low-cost water, fuel, electricity and duty-free imports of raw materials and machinery. Still, Saudi
Arabia is dependent on imports to meet 70% of its food requirements.

QUESTIONS:

Q.1 How can Saudi Arabia improve agriculture?

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Q.2 In what way(s) can Saudi Arabia become self-sufficient in fishing and agriculture?

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