JAKARTA – The Sustainable Agricultural Rural Development Program, officially known as Saudi Reef, has inaugurated its first dedicated sub-program aimed at comprehensively developing the production, manufacturing, and marketing of Saudi coffee. This significant initiative is being undertaken in collaboration with the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).

Ambitious Targets for Food Security and Economic Growth

The core objective of the coffee development program is to achieve a substantial increase in national coffee output. The initiative seeks to raise annual production dramatically from the current level of 800 tonnes to 7,000 tonnes, simultaneously boosting Saudi Arabia’s self-sufficiency rate from a minimal 0.5 percent to 4.4 percent by the end of the current year. This effort is a direct contributor to enhancing food security and strengthening the national economy, in line with the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030.

Majed Al-Buraikan, spokesperson for Saudi Reef, confirmed that the program is designed to formally integrate Saudi coffee into the national agricultural structure as a vital cash crop and to systematically expand the sector’s production base.

Socioeconomic Benefits for Rural Communities

Beyond production targets, the program is focused on delivering key socioeconomic benefits to rural populations. The initiative aims to:

1. Boost Self-Sufficiency: Significantly reduce reliance on coffee imports.

2. Enhance Value: Improve the market value of Saudi coffee through diversified processing and advanced marketing strategies.

3. Improve Livelihoods: Increase the income of smallholder farmers and create substantial employment opportunities for young people across the production areas and the entire coffee value chain.

The coffee sector represents one of eight critical agricultural segments receiving support from Saudi Reef, underscoring its role in promoting crop diversification, food security, and improved welfare for rural producers and households throughout the Kingdom.