How sustainable use of water is helping Saudi rose farms blossom into a global industry
JEDDAH: Saudi-grown pink roses are prized in the Arabian Peninsula for their expert cultivation, brilliant color, attractive fragrance and many luxury products derived from their petals, forming a multi-million dollar industry.
Two types of pink roses are cultivated in the state – the Medina rose, which has a light pink color and grows throughout the year, thriving in hot and cold climates, and the Typh rose, also known as Zori or Damascus rose, which grows only. in the spring.
Taif produces more than 550 million flowers each harvest season, which lasts between 45 and 60 days. Rose picking season usually starts in late March or early April.
Spread over 270 hectares, 910 rose farms have grown about 1.14 million bushes in areas such as Al-Hada, Al-Shifa, Wadi Muharram, Al-Wahat and Al-Wahit, according to the Saudi Press Agency.
Products derived from these flowers enjoy widespread popularity, with a domestic market value of SR64 million ($17 million).
Considered a hallmark of the region's natural beauty, Taif roses are known for their exquisite, sweet fragrance, vibrant pink color and delicate petals. Cultivated at high altitudes, these roses thrive in the cooler temperatures and fertile soils of the region.
Every spring, roses bloom in Taif, transforming pockets of the kingdom's vast desert landscape into fragrant pink patches. (AFP Photo)
More than 60 farms and the families who run them participate in the region's annual Rose Festival, which usually falls in April and May, where they showcase their products over five days of festivities.
These fragrant crops have elevated the mountainous governorate to the rose capital of the world, earning a place in the Guinness World Records in 2022 for the largest basket of roses with 84,450 flowers.
To develop the industry, the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture has launched several projects, including rehabilitation of agricultural terraces, use of rainwater harvesting techniques and sustainable rural agricultural development programmes.
A Saudi woman takes a photo of a rose garden at Bin Salman Farm in Taif on March 13, 2021. (AFP Photo)
The Ministry also supports specialized agricultural cooperatives, including the recently established Rose and Aromatic Plant Association. This support allows them to invest in ministry land, produce aromatic oils and benefit from agricultural development funds.
“The ministry is working on several initiatives and plans to achieve global leadership in the Taif rose industry and increase its production to 2 billion roses by 2026,” Saleh Bindakhil, spokesman for the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture, told Arab News.
you diddo you know
• Taif produces over 550 million flowers each harvest season, lasting 45-60 days.
Spread over 270 hectares, 910 farms in the west of the state grow 1.14 million bushes.
• Products derived from rose oil have a domestic market value of SR64 million ($17 million).
A group of horticulturists from the Agricultural Guidance Department was recently sent to Bulgaria, the Philippines and Thailand to learn about the latest techniques in rose-oil production and environmentally friendly farming practices.
Dedicated pest control teams receive expert guidance on best agricultural practices, responding quickly to requests from farmers to spray pesticides to protect crops from potential threats.
A tourist takes a photo with Taif roses at Bin Salman Farm in Taif city on March 13, 2021. (AFP)
The ministry leads the construction of necessary water infrastructure, including tanks and barriers, while also facilitating the establishment of irrigation networks to boost agricultural activities.
Emphasizing the importance of sustainable practices, the ministry encourages smallholder rose farmers to embrace and implement best agricultural practices, including essential oil extraction, as part of the value chain, providing valuable insights into the use of advanced technologies and optimal rose production techniques. development approach.
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“Taif Governorate has long been known as the ideal and original environment for Taif rose bushes,” said Bindakhil.
“Generations have cared for these roses, leaving aside the tradition of harvesting, distilling and extracting rose oil and water. They have enjoyed the fragrant history of these roses in the mild, cool climate and mountainous nature on the summit of the famous Jabal Ghazwan.
One use for rose water extracted from Taif roses is for washing the Kaaba in Mecca each year – a traditional practice supported by the Saudi government.
The distillation process, which lasts nine to 12 hours, is done using a tightly sealed copper pot. (AFP Photo)
The Kingdom has several factories and workshops dedicated to extracting and manufacturing more than 80 products from rose derivatives, producing a variety of fragrance products and body care items.
The rose industry plays an important role in regional development and local economies, providing many employment and marketing opportunities, and encouraging more women to enter the workforce.
To extract rose oil, sacks containing thousands of rose petals are poured into 90-liter copper stills, which are tightly sealed for a distillation process that lasts 9 to 12 hours.
It takes 45,000 roses to extract the oil, which is then poured into 12 milliliter vials. (AFP Photo)
It takes 45,000 roses to extract the oil, which is then poured into 12-milliliter vials, with prices starting at $400, depending on the season.
Al-Kamal, established in 1831, is the oldest factory manufacturing rose-derived cosmetics and cleaning products in the kingdom. Located in al-Hada in Medina, it is managed by Khalid al-Kamal, whose family has worked at the firm for generations.
“This is a career inherited from father to son – from one generation to the next – and I am very proud to tell you that I am the seventh generation to inherit this legacy,” Al-Kamal told Arab News in a 2021 interview.
A view of the entrance to the Al-Kamal rose factory in Taif. (Sutterstock)
“Working in the field of rose cultivation requires a lot of finesse, because the soil and the climate and the way of cultivation affect the quality of the rose. I learned from my ancestors, and now my three sons manage the factory with many workers.
With several new government investments in the pipeline to promote sustainable use of water resources, Saudi Arabia's rose industry is sure to continue to thrive in the coming years.
