2030 National Strategy for Agriculture.

This National Strategy for Agriculture is a nationwide sectoral document aiming at evaluating the performance of the agricultural sector and formulating its objectives through five axes (1) sustainability of natural resources; (2) food security; (3) welfare of society and farmers; (4) economic contribution; and (5) prevention. The strategic objectives for each pillar have been formulated as follows (1) protect and improve the use and sustainability of natural resources to contribute to achieving water security and preserving the environment; (2) enhance food security throughout the Kingdom during normal conditions and emergencies; (3) create job opportunities, contribute to sustainable rural development, and provide adequate living conditions for small farmers; (4) raise the productive efficiency, competitiveness and investment environment for agricultural products and services, and enhance their contribution to the economy; and (5) promote plant and animal health and safety, protect against disease and pest infection, and ensure product safety.
To improve the agricultural production, the Strategy suggests the following (i) improve the agricultural land use and increase cultivated areas; (ii) develop appropriate agricultural techniques and saline farming; (iii) rehabilitation of agricultural terraces and application of rainwater harvesting techniques; (iv) provide extension services; (v) increase the percentage of coverage of veterinary services for livestock and fisheries; (vi) establishment of the national portal for the palm and dates sector; (vii) develop production, manufacture and marketing of promising crops (such as beekeeping and honey); (viii) develop the sector of small livestock breeders, small fishermen and fish farmers; (ix) develop the cultivation of rainfed crops; (x) promote the integrated management of plant pests and diseases, such as prevention and control of red palm weevil; (xi) establishment of a center for the development and production of veterinary vaccines for local pathogens; (xii) establishment of the agricultural quarantine city and the development of the quarantine system; (xiii) apply good agricultural practices; (xiv) build comprehensive agricultural data bases and modernizing information systems and develop an agricultural records system.
As for food and nutrition, it is deemed necessary (i) an effective program for reserve and strategic food storage that includes an early warning system and information for agricultural markets, as well as an emergency management; (ii) the development of an adequate structure, coordination and governance systems for food security institutions, policies and legislation.
To protect the environment, the document proposes to (i) improve irrigation water supply and distribution to ensure the sustainability of natural resources, also using renewable and non-renewable groundwater in agriculture, as well as treated water; (ii) strengthen monitoring and compliance to increase water use efficiency; (iii) improve the agricultural waste management; (iv) develop the organic farming; (v) promote the responsible use of agricultural inputs; (vi) improve a sustainable livestock production; (vii) promote applied agricultural research for fisheries.
A more inclusive economic growth includes (i) the creation of an entity to develop and manage public benefit markets; (ii) support and improvement to the performance of agricultural cooperatives; (iii) the development of financial support mechanisms; (iv) the establishment of marketing services centers; (v) the development of fishing ports; (vi) strengthening of education and development of manpower formation mechanisms.
As for Governance, it is important the implementation of the institutional framework that can activate the proposed changes included in the Strategy for a group of institutions, with the establishment of the Execution Management Office for the Strategy, and keep pace with implementation, together with the development of laboratories, and the improvement of the quality control.