Al-Baha: A Blackberry Cultivation Success Story
Nestled in the heart of Al-Baha lies a flourishing blackberry cultivation initiative, showcasing the region’s potential for agricultural excellence.
Through cutting-edge plant tissue culture techniques, this project has exceeded expectations, proving to be a boon for both farmers and beekeepers. The rapid growth, high yield, and top-notch quality blossoms of the blackberry plant have paved the way for success.
With over 30,000 bushes already planted, Al-Baha’s blackberry cultivation initiative is thriving. The Saudi Press Agency reports that this endeavor holds immense promise for significant economic and investment gains, tapping into the region’s natural agricultural advantages such as fertile soil and abundant groundwater.
The blackberry cultivation initiative in Al-Baha has thrived, with more than 30,000 bushes planted to date. (SPA)
Fahd Al-Zahrani, the director of the Ministry of Environment, Water, and Agriculture in the region, emphasized the immense potential of the crop. He revealed that over 30,000 blackberry seedlings have been successfully planted in open fields, boasting a nearly 100 percent success rate. These seedlings have already started bearing high-quality fruit, marking the experiment’s triumph.
The ministry’s ambitious goal is to escalate the number of blackberry trees in Al-Baha to 3 million within the next three years. This vision is supported by various programs and collaborative efforts with farmers and agricultural associations. Numerous field workshops have been conducted to educate farmers on propagation techniques, facilitating the expansion of blackberry cultivation.
The blackberry cultivation initiative in Al-Baha has thrived, with more than 30,000 bushes planted to date. (SPA)
Hassan Saeed Al-Shantir, the owner of Al-Shantir Farm, highlighted the region’s conducive agricultural conditions, including fertile soil and groundwater. He kickstarted the process by preparing agricultural terraces and planting blackberries in late 2022, supported by the regional Ministry of Environment, Water, and Agriculture branch and the Agricultural Arabian Shield initiative, planting around 100 blackberry seedlings.
Al-Shantir proudly shared that his farm now hosts over 750 seedlings, witnessing significant production spikes. The farm has established sales points in Al-Baha and initiated exports to Jeddah, with plans for expansion to other major cities in the pipeline. He emphasized the rapid growth, abundant blossoms, high-quality fruit, and economic advantages of blackberries, highlighting their resilience to various climatic conditions.
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The ministry aims to increase the number of blackberry trees in Al-Baha to 3 million within the next three years, supported by various programs and collaboration with farmers and agricultural associations.
His plans involve utilizing the delectable, nutrient-rich blackberries in various products like desserts and food decorations, capitalizing on their low-calorie nature.
Additionally, he leveraged workshops organized by the ministry, focusing on crop composition plans, propagation techniques utilizing tissue culture, appropriate irrigation methods for blackberry cultivation, and seedling production through tissue culture.
Dr. Fatima Al-Omari, an advisor at the agriculture under-secretariat, elaborated on the blackberry’s attributes as a perennial plant or small shrub with curved, thorny branches. Blooming from late spring to early summer, it boasts white flowers and black fruit, offering abundant health and nutritional benefits due to its vitamins, minerals, fiber, and relatively low sugar content.
She noted the farms’ current excellent condition, with high-quality blooms and fruit observed within a year of planting the seedlings in several farms. These farms undergo regular monitoring by a committee led by Dr. Ibrahim Mohammed Aref, the initiative supervisor and advisor at the Agriculture Agency, in collaboration with the Agricultural Cooperative Society in Baljurashi and the Ministry’s regional branch.
Al-Baha, renowned for its distinctive agricultural landscape, features terraces that harmonize with the mountainous terrain, slopes, and elevations, retaining soil and rainwater. The region boasts a year-round variety of fruits, adding to its allure.