News in brief: Saudi Arabia’s Wadi Bin Hashbal farm has been recognised as the world’s largest sustainable farm, spanning 3.2 million square meters. It has an innovative water treatment system and diverse fruit produce including experimental varieties.
Saudi Arabia has achieved a monumental milestone in agriculture, with its extension farm in Wadi Bin Hashbal, Asir region, being recognised as the world’s largest sustainable farm in terms of area according to multiple news sources.
The historic achievement has made its way into the Guinness World Records as the Minister of Environment, Water, and Agriculture, Abdulrahman bin Abdulmohsen Al Fadhli, received the certificate of registration in a ceremony organised by the Saudi Reef Program at its headquarters in Riyadh.
The record breaking sustainable farm covers 3.2 million square meters. It is further divided into two sections, each with a 500 cubic meter concrete tank and an automatic irrigation network nourishing all crops across the two expansive fields.
Also, the farm’s irrigation mechanism relies on a water treatment system that is managed by specialists in various fields such as irrigation, fertilisation, prevention, and equipment management. The experts oversee 50 fields dedicated to fruit trees, with an additional 20 fields earmarked for reclamation and cultivation in the near future.
The farm’s major produce includes lemons, oranges, tangerines, pomegranates, grapes, figs, almonds, and olives. It also contains experimental fields of diverse agricultural varieties.
The extension farm is part of the Research Unit for Renewable Water Agriculture dedicated to developing innovative agricultural solutions that can help to address the challenges of water scarcity and climate change. Its massive size and celebrated success are proof of the nation’s commitment to sustainable agriculture and its vision to become a global leader in food security.
Analysts have hailed the achievement as a significant step forward for the Saudi agricultural sector. Additionally, it is lauded as an inspiration to other countries around the world. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has achieved the feat through innovation and perseverance.
It is important to note that the world’s largest farm is the Mudanjiang City Mega Farm, in Heilongjiang, China, which covers about 91 million square meters.
