The Sustainable Rural Agricultural Development Program, "Reef Saudi Arabia," has revealed positive indicators and ambitious projections for the future of the agricultural sector in the Kingdom. It announced its aim to raise the average monthly income of its beneficiaries—small farmers and producers—to over 20,000 riyals per individual by 2030. This announcement reflects the significant efforts being made to enhance economic sustainability in rural areas, in line with the objectives of the Kingdom's Vision 2030, which places great emphasis on diversifying income sources and achieving food security.
Within its historical and developmental context, the "Reef Saudi Arabia" program is a cornerstone of the Kingdom's efforts to support small farmers and productive families in rural areas. Since its inception, the program has aimed to improve living standards and food security, and to curb migration to major cities by creating economically viable employment opportunities in rural regions. These steps are of paramount importance given the global and local trend toward strengthening food supply chains and relying on local resources, particularly in promising sectors such as Saudi coffee, honey, fruit, and flowers.
Majed Al-Buraikan, the official spokesperson for "Reef Saudi Arabia," explained that the anticipated growth in income levels is not a coincidence, but rather the result of a comprehensive strategy that expanded the beneficiary base to exceed 200,000. He pointed out that the program focused on increasing productivity through the widespread adoption of "model projects," which have proven effective in boosting production by rates ranging from 40% to 250%, depending on the specific agricultural sector, thus enhancing the efficiency of available resources.
From an economic and technical standpoint, the program transforms farmers from traditional producers into small investors and entrepreneurs by supporting agricultural processing and local marketing. The introduction of modern technologies plays a pivotal role in this transformation; the use of advanced irrigation techniques and agricultural mechanization has contributed to reducing operating costs by up to 25%, positively impacting farmers' net profits and enhancing their competitiveness in the local market.
Al-Buraikan emphasized that this radical shift in per capita income aims to make agricultural work in rural areas a competitive and attractive economic option compared to jobs in urban areas. This trend has significant demographic and social dimensions, contributing to the stability and sustainability of rural communities. These optimistic projections are based on a real upward trend, with average income rising from 9,500 riyals in 2018 to 13,763 riyals by the end of 2024/2025, representing a 45% increase. This confirms the program's success in transforming rural agriculture into a genuine pillar of the national economy.
