For centuries, the Shada Mountains in the Al-Baha Region have been renowned for cultivating the distinct Shadwi coffee, thanks to the fertile soil, rainy seasons, and rustic surroundings, making coffee farming a prominent aspect of daily life for locals. Speaking to the Saudi Press Agency (SPA), agricultural expert Juman bin Hussein Al-Ghamdi expressed his passion and dedication to coffee cultivation, especially in light of government incentives and support for the agricultural sector, with a special focus on Shadwi coffee. This encouragement has inspired farmers to revive their ancestral farms, Al-Ghamdi explained to SPA. He further noted how his expertise in biology has greatly aided him in implementing scientifically sound agricultural practices, from selecting fertile soil to cultivation methods. He currently owns 10,000 coffee seedlings. Al-Ghamdi explained that a coffee tree begins growth about a month and a half after planting and takes one to two years to reach the seedling stage, at which point it can grow up to three meters in height. Coffee production typically begins after around three years, starting with small quantities and increasing as the tree matures, eventually yielding around 5 to 10 kilograms. The flowering stage starts in April, with fruit harvesting beginning in October. There are two types of coffee: a seasonal variety and a year-round dwarf coffee, which features large beans and prolific production, with trees not exceeding two meters in height. In Shada Alalah, Shada Al-Asfal, and Sadr Al-Mezawdah in the Al-Baha region, there are more than 200 farms cultivating over 22,000 of the finest Saudi coffee trees. Farmers in the region receive substantial support from the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture, including the launch of the Coffee City Development Project in Maashuqa, located in Al-Qara governorate. This project focuses on developing agricultural practices, improving product quality, and enhancing marketing efforts. The Maashuqa Coffee City Development Project is the first of its kind in Saudi Arabia, covering a total area of 1.6 million square meters. It aims to create 1,000 job opportunities and plant 300,000 coffee trees. Currently, the project has achieved a 55% completion rate, with 250,000 seedlings planted out of the planned 450,000. Source: Saudi Press Agency
