Mecca Mukarramah region ranks first in annual watermelon production

The annual watermelon production in Makkah Mukarramah region ranks first, reaching (442,300) tons per year. The second is Riyadh region, with an annual production of (608,930) tons. The watermelon fruit has important nutritional value and a large amount of water, which helps to meet the individual’s need for fluids. It is also considered an important fruit. Given the high temperatures, it is a symbol of recovery and comfort in the summer, which makes it an indispensable element for rest and relaxation.

The Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture said that this year the Kingdom has reached 99% self-sufficiency in watermelon fruit. This was achieved through the Ministry’s support for this fruit through several systemic programs, the most important of which is the Sustainable Rural Development Program “Reef”; in addition, the Ministry has organized a series of festivals and events that accompany the watermelon season, in addition to several promotional courses, programs and training workshops to increase farmers’ education and awareness of this unique fruit, while the annual production of watermelons in the Kingdom has reached (605) thousand tons/year this year; the agricultural area in the region is estimated to be (24) thousand hectares.

Engineer Majed Al-Khalif, Director of the Makkah Regional Branch of the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture, confirmed that the branch attaches great importance to this fruit, which is widely grown in many parts of the region because it does not require a permanent water source. The Al-Athari Habhab Festival is held every year in the Al-Laith governorate and receives a lot of attention from farmers and interested people in the region.