Najran's Al-Samraa brown wheat a popular choice for Ramadan preparations
NAJRAN: Wheat produced in Saudi Arabia's southern region of Najran is experiencing a significant increase in demand as people across the region prepare for the holy month of Ramadan, the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) has reported.
Among the most popular type is the Al-Samraa brown wheat, known locally as Al-Bur Al-Najrani, a staple ingredient in numerous popular dishes such as the Raqsh and Wafd.
'The increased demand for Najrani wheat during Ramadan is attributed to its high quality, nutritional value, and health benefits,' SPA said, adding that the variety is rich in vitamins B and E, folic acid, zinc, and dietary fiber.
Al-Samraa is one of the 13 products in Saudi Arabia that had been chosen by the Slow Food's Ark of Taste, a US-based organization that catalogs 'delicious and distinctive foods facing extinction.'
'By identifying and championing these foods, we keep them in production and on our plates,' says the website of Slow Food, which has added more than 3,500 products from over 150 countries to its International Ark of Taste.
Earlier this month, the regional office of the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture (MEWA) said Najran farmers expect to harvest their wheat crops in March. Crop planting began in early October, just before the onset of the winter season in the Kingdom.
Farmers told SPA that their Samraa wheat crops were cultivated without the use of chemicals and that advancements in agricultural machinery have enhanced efficiency and product quality.
Last year, the Najran brown wheat was featured in the inaugural Najran Wheat Festival organized by the MEWA and Social Development Bank to showcase the region's cultural heritage.
'This unhybridized, naturally grown wheat is a heritage we received from our ancestors,' farmer Mohammed Al-Mansour was quoted by SPA as saying.
'We use minimal irrigation to protect it from pests, ensuring its high quality,' Al-Mansour added.
According to the Cooperative Agricultural Association West of Najran, traditional wheat cultivation involved meticulous steps, requiring thorough land preparation and irrigation. Farmers also relied on animals for land preparation and harvesting. Wheat farming has been made easier today with the introduction of modern planting methods and use of advanced machineries.
Wheat farming has been made easier today with the introduction of modern planting methods and use of advanced machineries. (SPA)
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