https://arab.news/w86ga
RIYADH: The second Saudi Coffee Festival in Rijal Almaa governorate reinforced the Asir region’s status as a key economic and tourism center, according to the Saudi Press Agency.
The four-day event attracted numerous visitors, resulting in the sale of 5,945 kg of coffee and generating more than SR380,000 ($101,300) in revenue, the SPA reported.
More than 30 farmers participated, displaying coffee products that have increased significantly over the past year.
To support local agriculture, more than 5,000 coffee seedlings were distributed during the festival.
The event featured 38 exhibitors, including cottage industry families and artisans, who demonstrated traditional farming techniques alongside modern agricultural technology.
It also highlighted Asir’s production of premium Arabic coffee, providing local farmers a platform to present their crops, expand business opportunities, and reach global markets.
The festival was held under the patronage of Prince Turki bin Talal bin Abdulaziz, governor of the Asir region and chairman of the Asir Development Authority.
Ali Sayyad, CEO of the Rijal Almaa Coffee Cooperative Association, said the festival was a vital platform for marketing local products, particularly Saudi coffee, a primary income source for many in the region.
He said that growing interest in coffee cultivation has improved income levels and raised awareness of preserving this agricultural heritage.
Coffee farming in Rijal Almaa is a long-standing tradition, with some trees in the governorate being more than 200 years old, the SPA reported.
Sayyad said that residents have redeveloped many old farms in recent years, incorporating modern cultivation techniques.
Currently, the governorate is home to 286 farms with 93,082 coffee trees, including 63,328 fruit-bearing trees producing approximately 33,216 kg of coffee annually.
The association provides farmers with resources, including fertilizers, equipment, integrated irrigation systems, and traditional farming tools such as shovels, plows and mattocks, Sayyad said.