Guava Cultivation in Saudi Arabia

Guava cultivation in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia abounds in Jazan Province, located southwest of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The area is well-known for its seasonal fruit production, yielding 118,080 t of tropical fruits annually. Jazan Province has approximately six thousand guava trees within its agricultural lands, yielding around sixty t of guavas annually.

Guava fruits ripen in the fall and early winter in the Kingdom. The fruit can be eaten fresh or processed into juice or jam. Typically, its pulp contains a large amount of seeds, though some varieties are seedless. Guava seeds germinate easily, leading to the natural spread of guava trees under optimal conditions, especially in warm and humid regions.

Guava tree is an evergreen species, originating from the Caribbean region. It is easily pollinated by insects when planted, mainly by honeybees. It has spread from South America to warm regions around the world, thriving when optimal conditions are met. The tree can grow up to seven m in height.

Guava trees are characterized by their evergreen leaves, which are prominently veined and arranged oppositely along the branches. New leaves often appear reddish, helping protect them from strong sunlight. The older bark of the tree is reddish but peels off to reveal a lighter, grayish bark underneath. Guava trees bear both flowers and fruits simultaneously.

Guava grows well under full sunlight but reflected heat and strong winds are not recommended. Young guava plants are particularly vulnerable to frost, while mature ones can tolerate light frost for short periods. Guava plants thrive in a wide range of soil types, provided they are well-drained, whether acidic or alkaline. However, they prefer soils rich in organic matter.

Jazan Province provides a suitable environment for successful guava cultivation, featuring fertile soils, a moderate humid climate, and abundant fresh groundwater. The province also experiences heavy rainfall throughout the year. The Ministry of Environment, Water, and Agriculture is focused on improving agricultural systems and productivity in Jazan Province, enhancing research and scientific experiments, improving agricultural quality, and providing support to farmers. These efforts have contributed to building a sustainable agricultural sector that meets the goals of sustainable rural agricultural development, in line with Saudi Vision 2030.

In the course of cooperation between government entities, the Agricultural Research Center, affiliated with the Ministry of Environment, Water, and Agriculture in Jazan Province plays a key role in advancing agricultural research through various experiments, including the cultivation of tropical fruits.

The province is home to approximately 3.36 million trees, representing six prominent tropical fruit varieties: Mango, fig, banana, guava, papaya, and cherimoya.

Tropical fruits cultivation in Jazan Province has become widespread due to its economic viability. The province boasts over one million mango trees producing more than sixty-five thousand t annually, five hundred thousand fig trees producing 2,500 t annually, 1.2 million banana trees producing approximately eighteen thousand t annually, six thousand guava trees producing sixty t annually, 650,000 papaya trees producing 32,500 t annually, and four thousand cherimoya 'quince' trees producing twenty t annually.

The Ministry of Environment, Water, and Agriculture guides local farmers on the proper methods for planting, fertilizing, and irrigating guava trees. It encourages the cultivation of high-quality fruit varieties that are suitable for various local climates. Additionally, the ministry works closely with farmers to combat fungal diseases and insect pests affecting crops and to improve productivity. Additionally, extensive research and studies are conducted to enhance agricultural quality.

The ministry has organized the spacing between fruit trees for optimal planting. It suggests planting guava trees at a distance of four to six m, peach trees at five to seven m, and apricot trees at five to six m apart.

In 2021, the Ministry of Environment, Water, and Agriculture launched the campaign "It Is Their Season" to raise awareness about locally grown seasonal and diverse fruit varieties. The campaign also aimed to encourage the community to consume agricultural products to achieve self-sufficiency, support farmers, strengthen food security, create job opportunities, and spread knowledge about the quantitative and qualitative development of local agricultural production.

The Kingdom is striving to achieve self-sufficiency in the production of various tropical fruits by developing tissue culture protocols through the recruitment of specialized scientists. This aims to produce more crops and reduce the importation of seedlings of commercial species, while also increasing the percentage of non-oil local production and localizing the technologies used in agriculture.