The Saudi Al-Wataniya Agricultural Company revealed that it is targeting a 1,000 ton olive output for 2002 compared with 565 tons last year, reported Al-Hayat . The company intends to increase the number of planted olive trees in the Jouf area from 460,000 to one million. The Al-Wataniya Company invests nearly 700 million Saudi Riyals ($186.7 million) in its various agricultural projects in the Jouf area.
Recently published studies by the private sector estimate annual olive oil production in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia at 2,713 tons during the years 2000-2004. The same sources estimate the average domestic olive oil consumption at 13,719 tons per annum over the years 2000-2004. — (menareport.com)
© 2002 Mena Report (www.menareport.com)
