Saudi Arabia stressed that the pumping water, as well as agricultural activity and supply chains, are operating regularly and are unaffected by the coronavirus outbreak. It added that operations on food security projects were working at the highest levels amid the global pandemic.
According to the Minister of Environment, Water and Agriculture Abdulrahman al-Fadhli, the ministry’s various sectors are working smoothly and in continuous coordination to secure food and water supplies.
While inspecting food security projects in Riyadh, Fadhli said water pumping is operating smoothly throughout the Kingdom, with 9.7 million cubic meters being provided daily. Operations at desalination plants are moving smoothly.
On the agriculture sector, Fadhli said that the Saudi Grains Organization (SAGO) is capable, when needed, to produce about 270,000 flour bags, weighing 45 kilograms each, per day.
A statement by the ministry, a copy of which was obtained by Asharq Al-Awsat, revealed that the Kingdom’s storage capacity of wheat stands at about 3.3 million tons, with production at 15,100 tons per day.
On fresh food, the ministry said the country can produce over 180,000 tons of various vegetables per month.
There are no shortages in the market, it stressed. Poultry production is at 3.5 billion chickens and 15 million eggs per day. Milk production exceeds 7.5 million liters and seafood 437 tons per day.
