In recent years, farmers in Asir Region successfully revived the traditional coffee farms that have long been renowned in the area. This was made possible due to the significant government support for this type of agriculture.
A group of farmers from Al-Majardah Governorate, in northwest Asir, situated at an altitude of over 1,350 meters, has taken the initiative to rehabilitate coffee farms that had been dormant for decades.
Ali Al-Shehri, one of the farm owners, said in an interview with the Saudi Press Agency that about 10 years ago, he and some locals embarked on the rehabilitation of coffee farms, ensuring water supply through the collection of rainwater in traditional reservoirs. They also constructed concrete tanks for water storage.
Each mountain farm in the area now boasts more than 150 seedlings, yielding an annual coffee production ranging between 300 to 350 kilograms. Some farms, with more coffee plants, have yielded 500 kilograms per year.
The Asir Region Coffee Association, one of the region's private associations dedicated to coffee cultivation, focuses on raising awareness about methods of cultivating and marketing coffee, while forging partnerships with both public and private sectors. The aim is to make Asir a center for all coffee industry stakeholders: farmers, experts, suppliers, producers, importers and consumers.
According to the Aseer Development Authority's website, the region is estimated to have 20,823 coffee trees, which collectively produce 250 tons of green coffee and 83 tons of dry processed coffee.
Aligned with the strategy of the Asir Region Coffee Association, the region aims to achieve a coffee production target of 800 tons by the end of 2025. This will be accomplished through the cultivation of 200,000 trees on 200 farms.
The association's strategy centers on the implementation of an integrated action plan to enhance the capacity and potential of sustainable coffee farming. It encompasses initiatives related to empowerment, development, agricultural and economic growth, as well as sustainability of coffee production.
