Saudi private sector to resume feed barley import: Al Fadhli

Saudi Arabia, the world’s largest importer of feed barley, will re-allow private sector to import the grain, the minister of environment, water and agriculture Abdel Rahman Al-Fadhli said, as reported by the Saudi Press Agency (SPA).

The Saudi private sector will be re-allowed to imports feed barley, following a gap of two years during which the imports were handled by the Saudi Grains Organisation (SAGO), said a Reuters report.

In an open meeting with livestock breeders, the minister said the private sector will have to adhere to the same specifications as the SAGO when handling imports.

During the meeting, Al Fadhli has also launched the Agricultural Development Fund Program to provide operating loans to livestock breeders.

The program will provide ​​ direct financing to cover operating expenses of small livestock breeders that will have a repayment period of two years or less and a grace period of one year.

The loans will finance the purchase of a maximum of 500 cattle heads with the upper ceiling of the loan being SAR 100,000.

The program aims to provide liquidity to support small farmers and livestock breeders as well as to support rural areas engaged in cattle breeding.