Al Baha prickly pear production reaches 800 tons annually

The Al Baha region in Saudi Arabia is seeing significant growth in prickly pear production, locally known as ‘Barshoumi’. The annual production has reached approximately 800 tons, cultivated across 15.2 hectares.

Fahad Moftah Al-Zahrani, Director General of the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture in Al Baha, stated that the ministry is working to enhance the economic benefits of the crop. This includes supporting farmers and expanding into manufacturing industries to increase added value.

To support this, the ministry has launched an initiative that includes providing a production line and an oil extraction press for local farmers. Beyond selling fresh fruit, the crop is being targeted for use in food industries, seed oil extraction, and cosmetic products. There are also investment opportunities being explored, including the potential establishment of a specialized agricultural city for prickly pear covering more than 2.2 million square meters.