Saudi Agricultural Investment Financing Witnesses 400 Percent Growth

A rice field in Al-Ahsa, Saudi Arabia. (Photo: Reuters)
A rice field in Al-Ahsa, Saudi Arabia. (Photo: Reuters)
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Saudi Agricultural Investment Financing Witnesses 400 Percent Growth

A rice field in Al-Ahsa, Saudi Arabia. (Photo: Reuters)
A rice field in Al-Ahsa, Saudi Arabia. (Photo: Reuters)

Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Environment, Water and Agriculture, Eng. Abdul Rahman bin Abdul Mohsen Al-Fadhli, emphasized the success of the Kingdom’s experience in the Sustainable Agricultural Rural Development Program, which was launched by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz.

In remarks during his participation in the meeting of the ministers of Agriculture of the G20 in the Italian city of Florence, Fadhli said that 12 billion riyals (USD 3.2 billion) were allocated to support small farmers.

The minister noted that agricultural investments in Saudi Arabia, funded by the Agricultural Development Fund, have grown over the past four years by about 400 percent, which has contributed to building a resilient and sustainable food system.

He added that the Kingdom has turned to modern technical methods in the field of agricultural extension, with the aim of reaching the largest segment of farmers in a faster and more efficient manner.

Meanwhile, the Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Hail (Northern Saudi Arabia), represented by the Agriculture and Food Committee, held a meeting in which it discussed the most important challenges facing farmers and agricultural marketing.

The meeting was held in the presence of specialized members and representatives of the Agricultural Development Fund, the Ministry of Environment, the Municipality of Hail, the Saudi Grains Organization, and the Ministry of Tourism.

Discussions during the meeting focused on the mechanism of establishing a farmer’s market, in addition to the agricultural crop festivals in the region – projects that were recently approved on the main platform of the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture, and presented to investors and businessmen.



Exports from Libya's Hariga Oil Port Stop as Crude Supply Dries Up, Say Engineers

A general view of an oil terminal in Zueitina, west of Benghazi April 7, 2014. (Reuters)
A general view of an oil terminal in Zueitina, west of Benghazi April 7, 2014. (Reuters)
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Exports from Libya's Hariga Oil Port Stop as Crude Supply Dries Up, Say Engineers

A general view of an oil terminal in Zueitina, west of Benghazi April 7, 2014. (Reuters)
A general view of an oil terminal in Zueitina, west of Benghazi April 7, 2014. (Reuters)

The Libyan oil export port of Hariga has stopped operating due to insufficient crude supplies, two engineers at the terminal told Reuters on Saturday, as a standoff between rival political factions shuts most of the country's oilfields.

This week's flare-up in a dispute over control of the central bank threatens a new bout of instability in the North African country, a major oil producer that is split between eastern and western factions.

The eastern-based administration, which controls oilfields that account for almost all the country's production, are demanding western authorities back down over the replacement of the central bank governor - a key position in a state where control over oil revenue is the biggest prize for all factions.

Exports from Hariga stopped following the near-total shutdown of the Sarir oilfield, the port's main supplier, the engineers said.

Sarir normally produces about 209,000 barrels per day (bpd). Libya pumped about 1.18 million bpd in July in total.

Libya's National Oil Corporation NOC, which controls the country's oil resources, said on Friday the recent oilfield closures have caused the loss of approximately 63% of total oil production.