In this Oct. 16, 2013 file photo by the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) shows Nadine Heredia (C), FAO Special Ambassador for the International Year of Quinoa and First Lady of Peru speaking during the World Food Day ceremony at the FAO headquarters.

The Kingdom is currently implementing 16 projects under the FAO-Saudi Technical Cooperation Program, according to Mouhab Fouad Alawar, FAO information and communication officer.

“Under the program, the Kingdom has been given agricultural development goals related to food security and the sustainable use of natural resources,” said Mouhab Fouad Alawar, FAO information and communication officer.

The development goals include minimizing reliance on oil as a main source of income, diversification of production base and reducing dependence on imports of food commodities.

The projects include the establishment of an international date farm center, improvement of research for sustainable camel production, genetic breeding of Arabian horses, development of non-conventional water sources in Al-Hassa, and giving support to small-scale farmers.

Other projects include strengthening and supporting further the development of local aquaculture, strengthening the national capacity to control diseases of plants and animals, development and extension of technology transfer to farmers, strengthening the capacity of the MOA’s staff, development of oil production and processing technique, development of technology transfer in horticulture, conservation of natural forests, development of integrated pest and pesticide management, development of irrigation water management, supporting international cooperation, and improving animal production in the Kingdom.

The projects were formulated based on priorities that were set out in the Ninth Saudi Development Plan, the Agriculture Ministry’s Agricultural Development Strategy up to 2030, as well as the Country Program Framework (CPF) and the new FAO Strategic Objectives Framework.

Alawar said that with the help of FAO, the local agriculture sector has benefited from government policies and programs including subsidies, interest-free loans and other assistance services.

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