Saudi Gazette

JEDDAH — Saudi Arabia is well known for oil production and vast deserts, however, it is also known as a country that has large parts of fertile land that produces variety of fruits including Mango.

Unlike in India, Pakistan and Brazil, mango has not been grown in Kingdom for over thousands of years but it is only a nearly three decades old cultivation in the Kingdom yet it has made significant inroads into Saudi society as Saudis are fond of their own mango and is gaining popularity among Saudis.

Jazan, known for its fertile land, is the only place that cultivates mango in Kingdom and the Jazan mango variety is gaining popularity across the Kingdom. The mango farmers in the region have been trying to attain Geographical Identification (GI) for Jazan for its mango.

The Mango Festival, which has been held for over a decade here, is a platform to popularize the mango of Jazan. In fact, the Mango Festival is calendar event for local people in Jazan as it brings fun and leisure to the locals.

A nine-day Mango Festival, in its 13th edition, concluded on Friday and has not only popularized the local breed of the ‘king of fruit’ but also infused patriotism of national harvest crop among younger generation of Saudis.

It was bustling fun for over a week at Kadi Mall, the popular mall in the city, for people in the region. Not only from Jazan city, but visitors from nearby villages flocked to the mall to see the taste the mango varieties.

Prince Mohammed Bin Nasser, governor of Jazan, visited the festival and interacted with mango growing farmers.

The festival was organized by Ministry of Agriculture and Environment in collaboration with Saudi Commission for Tourism and National Heritage (SCTH).

“Every year there is overwhelming response from visitors to see the variety of mangoes on offer,” said Rustum Al Qubaishi, director of SCTH in Jazan region.

Mango lovers from across the Kingdom visit Jazan to taste of delicious fruit, he added.

There are over 60 varieties of mango harvested in orchards in Jazan that yields over 30,000 tons per annum, according to Agriculture Ministry officials.

There are 1,200 mango orchards currently in Jazan that comprises 750,000 trees, the ministry said.

Jalan, Toumi, Kait, Balamar, Zabda are popular varieties besides hybrids of Pakistan and Indian varieties that trace its origin to South Asia.

Mango farming experts from India, Pakistan, Egypt, Kenya, Sudan, Australia and USA had worked with local authorities to introduce mango cultivation culture in Jazan in 1980s.