Commercialisation of Agriculture: Olive Farming in Al Jouf Province, Saudi Arabia

Abstract:

The current study investigates issues related to the Commercialization of Agriculture in Saudi Arabia in the light of various theories of sustainable agriculture. The rationale for this study is needed to investigate the importance of a Commercialization of the agriculture sector as the country diversifies its sources of revenue. The aim of the government is to reinvigorate the country’s once-thriving agricultural sector in the interests of food security by minimizing its need for food importation. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with farm workers and managers to elicit their views on the current state of agriculture in Saudi Arabia, the challenges they faced due to arid climatic conditions, and their opinions as to what needed to be prioritized in government agrarian policies. The key findings which emerged from thematic analysis are then presented and discussed. The study concludes with recommendations that the participants considered important for facing the challenges to sustainable agriculture in desert regions.