MEWA Reports Significant Increase In Date Production To Nearly 2 Million Tons In 2023

The Ministry of Environment, Water, and Agriculture (MEWA) has reported a significant rise in date production across Saudi Arabia for 2023, reaching over 1.9 million tons. The Kingdom now boasts 37.1 million palm trees, with approximately 31.8 million being fruit-bearing. This increase highlights the country's growing agricultural capabilities.

Qassim leads the Kingdom in date production, yielding more than 578.1 thousand tons from its palm trees. The region also has the highest number of palm trees, exceeding 10.7 million, including over 9.7 million fruit-bearing ones. This positions Qassim as a central hub for date cultivation in Saudi Arabia.

Riyadh ranks second in date production with over 4,531 thousand tons harvested in 2023. It is followed by Madinah, which produced more than 343 thousand tons of dates. The Eastern region contributed over 258.7 thousand tons to the national total, showcasing its role in the agricultural sector.

Aseer and Tabuk regions also contributed to the overall date yield, producing about 61 thousand tons and more than 55.6 thousand tons respectively. Other regions in the Kingdom have varying levels of date production, reflecting diverse agricultural practices and conditions.

In terms of palm tree numbers, Qassim again leads with over 10.7 million trees, including more than 9.7 million fruit-bearing ones. Riyadh follows closely with more than 8 million palm trees, of which over 6.8 million are fruit-producing.

Madinah has surpassed the mark of 8 million palm trees, including more than 6.4 million that bear fruit. The Eastern region holds over 4 million palm trees with more than 3.9 million being fruit-bearing varieties.

The remaining regions of Saudi Arabia show a varied distribution of both total and fruit-bearing palm trees, indicating regional differences in cultivation practices and environmental conditions.

This data underscores the importance of date production within Saudi Arabia's agricultural sector and highlights regional contributions to this vital industry.

With inputs from SPA