I. INTRODUCTION
Agriculture is not environmentally ideal for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia yet agricultural sector
receives great importance. The state has been making concerted efforts through its five-year development plans
to develop its agriculture to ensure food security. Due to the supportive and encouraging policies of the
government, and able guidance from the extension service, farmers were able to enhance agricultural production
and achieve self-.sufficiency.Its borders are Al-Kharj and Al-Hareeq governorates from the north, Al-Aflaj
governorate from the south, Al-Kharj and Al-Aflaj governorates from the east, and Al-Hareeq governorate from
the west. Its area is 7350 square kilometers and its population is 43300 people. Literature indicates the Hota has
potential to produce and export its products such as wheat, dates, watermelon, poultry and fresh eggs and milk.
The kingdom also produces some cereals like: wheat, sorghum, barley and millet in the regions rich in water
resources. Tomatoes, watermelons, eggplants, potatoes, cucumbers and onions are also grown. Encouraging
response on the production of Date-palm, citrus and grapes has been experienced. Agricultural endeavours aim
at moving towards achieving export markets.. However, in order to produce more food for the increasing
population, the country realized its agricultural potential but at the cost of overexploitation of its natural
resources.
1.1 Methodology
In order to effectively address the study objectives, we propose a study that integrates descriptive
analysis and both qualitative, quantitative methodologies. The study design, methodology for data collection,
and data analysis procedure. The present study based on primary as well as secondary data. Primary data are
collected through questionnaire, which are administered at different respondents while secondary data are
collected mainly from various sources such as official resources as Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of
Planning, SADAD, FAO, Centre Department of Statistics and Foreign Trade and other sources from review
references, publications and related websites.
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Marketing efficiency of agriculture produce in Saudi Arabia: A study of Hotat Region
physicochemical variables occur, as land use, rainfall and farming activities change seasonally, and these
concentrations therefore be determined periodically.
Abdullah (2003) analyzed the study Farmers Awareness of the Importance of Organic farming as
Sustainable Agriculture in Qassim Region, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. This study aimed to identify the degree of
awareness of the farmers on the importance of organic farming as the part of sustainable agriculture
development in Qassim, Saudi Arabia, The study explored the nature of the relationship between the
independent variable. This study was conducted on the sample of (193) fanners (participants) representing all
farmers of the study area. The preliminary data werecollected by using the statistical analysis and to make the
data more meaningful, percentages, regression (stepwise) were used. The study revealed that about three-
quarters (75.6%) the farmers/ respondents were with low to medium perception on the importance of organic
farming.
Frequency Percent 40
39
strongly disagree 2 11.1
30
20
f air 2 11.1
agree 5 27.8 10
P e rc en t
11 11 11
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Marketing efficiency of agriculture produce in Saudi Arabia: A study of Hotat Region
Q2
Q2
30
28
Frequency Percent
strongly disagree 2 11.1 20
22 22
fair 4 22.2 10 11
agree 5 27.8
P e rc en t
strongly agree 3 16.7 0
Q3
Q3
40
Frequency Percent
33
28
fair 5 27.8 17
10 11 11
agree 2 11.1
P e rc en t
Q5
Q5
Frequenc y Percent 50
28
f air 5 27.8 20
17
agree 7 38.9 10
Perc ent
11
s tro n gl y di sa g re e fa ir s tro n gl y ag re e
Q5
Q6
30
28
Q6
22
20
Frequenc y Percent 17 17 17
f air 4 22.2
P e rc en t
agree 3 16.7 0
Total 18 100.0
Q6
Q7
60
Q7
50
50
Frequency Percent 40
20
f air 9 50.0
P e rc en t
10
agree 5 27.8 11
6 6
0
strongly agree 2 11.1 s trongl y di sagree fair s trongl y agree
Total 18 100.0
Q7
Q8
Q8
60
Frequenc y Percent
50
40
f air 3 16.7
20 22
agree 9 50.0 17
Perc ent
10
s tro n gl y di sa g re e fa ir s tro n gl y ag re e
Total 18 100.0
d is ag re e a gree
Q8
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Marketing efficiency of agriculture produce in Saudi Arabia: A study of Hotat Region
Q11
Q11
50
Frequenc y Percent
s trongly dis agree 4 22.2 40
39
f air 7 38.9 20 22
17
agree 2 11.1 10
Perc ent
11 11
s tro n gl y di sa g re e fa ir s tro n gl y ag re e
Total 18 100.0
d is ag re e a gree
Q11
Q12
Q12 40
33
30
Frequency Percent
28
f air 6 33.3 10 11 11
Pe rc en t
agree 2 11.1
0
strongly agree 5 27.8 s trongl y di sagree fair s trongl y agree
Total 18 100.0
Q12
Q13
30
Q13 28 28
22
Frequenc y Percent 20
f air 5 27.8
P e rc en t
6
agree 5 27.8
0
Total 18 100.0
Q13
Q14
30
28 28
Q14
20
Frequency Percent
strongly disagree 3 16.7 17 17
f air 5 27.8
P e r c en t
agree 5 27.8
0
Total 18 100.0
Q14
Q15
40
Q15
33
30
28
Frequenc y Percent
22
s trongly dis agree 2 11.1 20
agree 6 33.3 6
Total 18 100.0
Q15
Q16
40
Q16
33
30
Frequency Percent
strongly disagree 2 11.1 20 22
f air 4 22.2 10 11
P e rc en t
agree 6 33.3
0
Total 18 100.0
Q16
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Marketing efficiency of agriculture produce in Saudi Arabia: A study of Hotat Region
SUMMARY STATISTICS
Rank Commodity Production (Int $1000) Production (MT)
1 Meat indigenous, chicken 815145 572270
2 Milk, whole fresh cow 546107 1750000
3 Dates 536239 1050000
4 Tomatoes 194021 525000
5 Eggs, hen, in shell 182466 220000
6 Wheat 168827 780000
7 Fruit, fresh nes 145024 415500
8 Meat indigenous, cattle 134212 49683
9 Vegetables, fresh nes 117776 625000
10 Meat indigenous, sheep 112070 41160
11 Grapes 85743 150000
12 Potatoes 68491 450000
13 Meat indigenous, camel 47263 22552
14 Cucumbers and gherkins 45666 230000
15 Fruit, citrus nes 45205 100000
16 Watermelons 42150 370000
17 Sorghum 40457 265000
18 Melons, other (inc.cantaloupes) 36818 200000
19 Milk, whole fresh camel 34097 100000
20 Okra 32934 51500
Source: Authors Calculations
Saudi Arabia has paid great attention to the agricultural and livestock sector in recognition of the vital
role played by the sector in the sustainable economic development. The GDP during 2012 about 40.1 billion to
its contribution to the non-petroleum sector by 6.4 per cent and GDP of 2.8 per cent in the share of the
agriculture and fishing sector of bank credit granted to economic activities in the Kingdom in 2012 about 7.4
billion which represents 1.6 total credit granted to all economic activities.
Despite the lack of water in the vast desert of Saudi Arabia and some experts considered unsuitable for
agriculture but the determination to experience, a unique agricultural development delivers it to where it is now
a large agricultural Renaissance.
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Marketing efficiency of agriculture produce in Saudi Arabia: A study of Hotat Region
IV. CONCLUSION
The study analyse the marketing efficiency of the small region in the kingdom. Vegetables markets of
this area found to be effecient based on the study findings. It is recommended in the study the daily local market
need to be encouraged by Ministry of Agriculture, KSA. should encourage to educate the farmers,to update
marketing activities,develop infrastructure facilities may help to improve marketing efficiency in the region.
More effective marketing of agriculture products in the Hotat region there is need to organize vegetables and
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Marketing efficiency of agriculture produce in Saudi Arabia: A study of Hotat Region
fruits festivals on regular basis ,make easy procedures for agriculture labour contracts.Hence, local government
need to pay attention to the given recommendations in the study will give positive impact in the marketing
efficiency of the region. .
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