The coffee villages of the Jazan region in the Saudi Arabia inhabit a terrain quite different from the desert landscape with which most would associate with the kingdom.
In the hills above the village of Addayar live farmers that grow the region’s coffee, using techniques that range from the traditional to the innovative.
Jaber Al Solameen runs his family farm. His father is a very famous coffee farmer in the region, and despite being a senior citizen, still takes part in the day to day activities around land that has been in his family for over 200 years.
The farm hosts coffee samplers and coffee tourists, 4-6 groups on average per day, from around the world. Recently, a group of university students from Cote d’Ivoire showed up to taste the coffee after hearing about Al Solameen and the similarities between his offerings and their own African blends.
The Saudi government is not resting on its laurels and has taken a proactive approach to coffee farming.
A few miles away from the Al Solameen farm is one belonging to Ahmed Al Malki. His family owns the land, preserving the terraces for trees, which number over a thousand.
Al Malki began his coffee production less than two years ago and has already exceeded expectations of output and efficiency, producing beans in one year that normally would take three years as his first crop.
The Al Malki farm is 100% organic and self-sufficient. All of the soil and nutrients needed for growing are produced within the farm through an ambitious composting effort, creating a truly self-sufficient operation.
Nothing goes to waste, including food waste from the farm’s kitchen that is repurposed to the soil.
Similarly, most of the water required to irrigate the trees comes from collected rainwater. Additional water is obtained from once abandoned wells on the property, digging over 400 feet in places to extract a vital resource in the coffee-making process.
Al Malki is proud of his farm as one of the epicentres for the preservation of Khalwani coffee. This variety is unique to Saudi Arabia and the kingdom is seeking UNESCO protected status for the crop.
However, the Saudi government is not resting on its laurels and has taken a proactive approach to coffee farming.
Recognition from the government has led to increased support
The Minister of the Environment has held three workshops at his Al Malki’s farm, highlighting the techniques for planting and growing beans, the overall organic process implemented as well as the rain technology being used.
The farm is now a recognised training centre in all three areas. Researchers and investigators from around the world have come to the farm to learn about coffee growing.
The Saudi academic community and private sector are offering their resources to the Al Malki farm to further enhance its coffee-producing technology. The farm has a Memorandum of Understanding with King Saud University and Sabiq Company, as well as with Fakhim University.
The coffee planting season in Jazan province is effectively a year-round effort. The flowering season lasts 4 months, beginning in January/February, and coincides with the Jazan Coffee Festival.
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia sends representatives to the festival and is enthusiastically engaged in supporting the coffee heritage of Jazan. The Ministry of Environment works closely with coffee farmers through the Governor of Addayar, Naif Nasser bin Lebdah.
He is astounded by the passion of the local people to return to their coffee-growing heritage and has been eager with his office’s response to help them achieve their aspirations.
The Governor confirmed the Ministry’s support for farmers, who last year had a yield of 336 tons of coffee. The government has ambitious goals, seeking an annual production level of 5,000 tons by 2030, the amount where Saudi Arabia will be self-sufficient for its own coffee consumption.
By 2040, it is forecast that Saudi Arabia will be producing coffee at export levels.
