Compost production in Asir: A workshop to promote agricultural sustainability
The branch of the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture in the Asir region, in cooperation with the National Center for Organic Agriculture and the Saudi Organic Agriculture Association, organized a specialized workshop that focused mainly on compost production in Asir, as one of the leading practical and environmental solutions to transform agricultural waste into a sustainable economic resource that supports local farmers and improves soil quality in the region.
A pioneering step towards enhancing compost production in Asir and training farmers
This workshop, titled “Applications in Collecting and Shredding Organic Farm Residues for Compost Production,” highlighted the critical importance of recycling agricultural waste instead of disposing of it through traditional, environmentally harmful methods such as burning or indiscriminate dumping. The workshop aimed to provide farmers with practical training in processing agricultural residues and to explain the precise scientific steps for creating a compost heap correctly, ensuring accelerated decomposition. The training also focused on clarifying the fundamentals of mixing dry and wet organic materials to achieve the ideal carbon-to-nitrogen (C/N) ratio, a crucial factor in the success of organic composting.
National context and orientation towards sustainable agriculture
This initiative comes within the framework of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s ongoing national efforts to achieve the goals of Saudi Vision 2030, particularly in the areas of environmental sustainability and food security. Over the past few years, the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture has placed significant emphasis on the transition to organic farming and reducing reliance on chemical fertilizers and synthetic pesticides. Recycling organic waste is a key pillar of the national agricultural strategy, as the Kingdom seeks to reduce carbon emissions resulting from waste burning and transform the agricultural sector into a circular sector that relies on the self-recycling of resources available on farms.
Expected economic and environmental impact of the initiative
The impact of adopting waste recycling practices extends beyond the local environment to include significant economic and social dimensions at the local and regional levels. Locally, these practices empower farmers to rely on their own resources to produce high-quality organic agricultural inputs, thereby reducing production costs and significantly increasing profit margins. Compost also helps improve the physical properties of the soil and increase its water retention capacity, which is crucial in arid and semi-arid regions.
Regionally and internationally, these steps align with global efforts to combat climate change and land degradation. Producing clean, chemical-free crops gives Saudi products a strong competitive edge in regional and international markets, which are experiencing increasing demand for organic food. Furthermore, reducing waste accumulation prevents the spread of pests and rodents, thus promoting public health and environmental safety for both rural and urban communities.
