How sustainable water use is helping Saudi rose farms blossom into a global industry
JEDDAH: Saudi Arabian pink roses are loved throughout the Arabian Peninsula for their expert cultivation, vivid colors, seductive fragrance and the many luxury products derived from their petals, which form a multi-million dollar industry.
Two types of pink roses are grown in the kingdom – the Medina rose, which has a light pink blush and grows all year round, thriving in warm and cool climates, and the Taif rose, also known as the Jory or Damascus rose, which only grows in spring.
Taif produces more than 550 million flowers each harvest season, which lasts 45 to 60 days. Rose picking season usually starts in late March or early April.
According to the Saudi Press Agency, 910 rose farms covering an area of 270 hectares grow about 1.14 million bushes in areas such as Al-Hada, Al-Shifa, Wadi Muharram, Al-Wahat and Al-Wahit.
Products obtained from these flowers are widely popular, with a domestic market value of SR 64 million (US$17 million).
Considered a hallmark of the region's natural beauty, Taif roses are known for their exquisite, sweet fragrance, vibrant pink hues and delicate petals. These roses are grown at high altitudes and thrive in cool temperatures and fertile soil.
Each spring, roses bloom in Taif, turning pockets of the Kingdom's vast desert landscape into fragrant pink patches. (AFP photo)
More than 60 farms and the families that run them take part in the region's annual Rose Festival, which usually falls in April and May, where they display their products over five days of festivities.
These fragrant crops have elevated the mountainous governorate to the global rose capital, earning a place in the 2022 Guinness Book of World Records for the largest basket of roses containing 84,450 flowers.
The Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture has launched several projects, including the restoration of agricultural terraces, the application of rainwater harvesting technologies and the Sustainable Development of Rural Agriculture Program to help the sector grow.
A Saudi woman takes a picture of a rose orchard at Bin Salman Farm in Taif on March 13, 2021. (AFP photo)
The ministry also supports specialized agricultural cooperatives, including the recently established Rose and Aromatic Plants Association. This support allows them to invest in ministerial land, produce aromatic oils and benefit from the Agricultural Development Fund.
“The ministry is working on several initiatives and plans to achieve global leadership in Taif's rose industry and increase its production to 2 billion roses by 2026,” Saleh Bindakhil, spokesman for the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture, told Arab News.
YOU KNEWKNOW?
• Taif produces more than 550 million flowers each harvest season, which lasts 45-60 days.
• 910 farms in the west of the Kingdom on an area of 270 hectares grow 1.14 million bushes.
• Products derived from rose oil are worth SR 64 million (US$ 17 million) in the domestic market.
A group of horticulturists from the Agricultural Guidance Department were recently sent to Bulgaria, the Philippines and Thailand to learn about the latest rose oil production technologies and environmentally friendly farming practices.
Farmers receive expert advice on best agricultural practices, while specialist pest control teams respond quickly to requests 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 also leads the construction of basic water management infrastructure, including reservoirs and barriers, while facilitating the establishment of irrigation networks to support agricultural activity.
Emphasizing the importance of sustainable practices, the ministry encourages smallholder rose farmers to adopt and implement best agricultural practices, providing them with valuable insights into the use of advanced technology and optimal rose production techniques, including essential oil extraction as part of the value chain. development approach.
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“Taif Governorate has long been recognized as an ideal and original habitat for Taif rose bushes,” Bindakhil said.
“Generations have cared for these roses and passed on the tradition of harvesting, distilling and extracting rose oil and water. They enjoyed the fragrant history of these roses in the mild, cool climate and mountain scenery at the top of the famous Jabal Ghazwan.
One use of rose water extracted from Taif roses is in the annual washing of the Kaaba in Mecca – a traditional practice supported by the Saudi government.
The distillation process, which takes nine to 12 hours, is done using tightly sealed copper vessels. (AFP photo)
The kingdom has many factories and workshops dedicated to the extraction and production of more than 80 rose derivative products, the production of various aromatic products and body care items.
The pink industry plays a significant role in regional development and the local economy, providing a range of employment and marketing opportunities and encouraging more women to enter the workforce.
To extract the rose oil, bags containing thousands of rose petals are poured into 90 liter copper stills, which are then sealed tightly for a distillation process that takes nine to 12 hours.
45,000 roses are needed to produce the oil extract, which are then poured into 12 milliliter bottles. (AFP photo)
It takes 45,000 roses to make the oil extract, which is then poured into 12-milliliter bottles that start at $400, depending on the season.
Al-Kamal, established in 1831, is the oldest rose cosmetics and cleaning products factory in the Kingdom. Located in Al-Hada, Medina, it is managed by Khalid Al-Kamal, whose family has worked in the business for generations.
“It is an inherited career from father to son – from one generation to another – and I am very proud to tell you that I am the seventh generation to inherit this legacy,” Al-Kamal said in an interview with Arab News in 2021.
A view of the entrance to the Al-Kamal rose factory in Taif. (Shutterstock)
“Working in the field of rose cultivation requires great finesse, because the quality of the roses is affected by the soil and weather, as well as the method of cultivation. I learned from my ancestors and now my three sons run the factory along with some workers.
With many new government investments in pipelines promoting the sustainable use of water resources, Saudi Arabia's rose industry will undoubtedly continue to flourish in the coming years.
