Mango Tree

The Mango Tree (amba) is a perennial, evergreen tree that grows slowly and can reach a height of thirty m. Its leaves are approximately thirty cm long and five cm wide. It is cultivated in several regions of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

The oldest mango tree planted in the Kingdom is located at the Agricultural Research Center in Jazan Province. It was planted in 1972 and has grown to about three m tall. This marked the start of the center's field experiments, under the branch of the Ministry of Environment, Water, and Agriculture in Jazan Province, which led to the emergence of mango cultivation there. Between 1982 and 1984, the center introduced twenty varieties of mango from Florida, India, Egypt, and Australia, conducting studies that proved Jazan Province's environmental suitability for mango cultivation. This resulted in the region now having sixty different types of mangoes.

Mango trees are cultivated in several regions across the Kingdom, including Jazan Province, which has over one million mango trees producing about 65,000 t annually in 2023. The main areas in Jazan where mangoes are grown include the governorates of Sabya, Abu Arish, ad-Darb, Samitah, and Baysh. In Makkah al-Mukarramah Province, mangoes are cultivated in the governorates of al-Qunfudhah, al-Lith, and Adam. In al-Bahah Province, they are grown in the governorates of al-Mikhwah and Qilwah. Additionally, mangoes are cultivated in the coastal governorates of Tabuk Province as well as in the provinces of Aseer, Najran, al-Madinah al-Munawwarah, the Eastern Province, and Riyadh City.

Mango trees begin to bear fruit four to five years after planting, with production increasing until economic yields begin around the tree's fifteenth year. Proper care conditions are maintained throughout the tree's lifespan. Lands with light yellow or clayey deep soil, which are well-drained and moderately acidic, are suitable areas for mango cultivation. These areas benefit from warm temperatures and humidity, with sunlight aiding tree health, fruit-bearing capacity, and protecting against fungal diseases.