How sustainable use of water is helping Saudi rose farms blossom into a global industry
JEDDAH: Saudi-grown pink roses are loved across the Arabian Peninsula for their expert cultivation, vibrant color, enticing fragrance and the many luxury products derived from their petals, which constitute a multi-million dollar industry.
Two types of pink roses are grown in the kingdom – the Medina rose, which has a pale pink blush and grows year-round and thrives in warm and cool climates, and the Taif rose, also known as the Jory 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. The rose picking season usually starts in late March or early April.
Spanning 270 hectares, 910 rose gardens nurture 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.
The products derived from these flowers enjoy great popularity, with a domestic market value of SR64 million ($17 million).
Considered a hallmark of the region's natural beauty, the Taif roses are known for their exquisite, sweet fragrance, vibrant pink hues and delicate petals. Grown at high altitudes, these roses thrive in the region's 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 showcase their produce over five days of festivities.
These fragrant crops have elevated the mountainous governorate into a global rose capital, earning a place in the 2022 Guinness World Records for the largest basket of roses, containing 84,450 flowers.
To grow the industry, the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture has launched several projects, including the rehabilitation of agricultural terraces, the application of rainwater harvesting technology and the program for the sustainable development of rural agriculture.
A Saudi woman takes a picture 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 Plants Association. This support enables them to invest in ministries, produce aromatic oils and benefit from the Agricultural Development Fund.
“The ministry is working on several initiatives and plans to achieve global leadership in the Taif rose industries and increase its production to 2 billion roses by 2026,” Saleh Bindakhil, spokesman for the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture, told Arab News.
DID YOUKNOW?
• Taif produces more than 550 million flowers each harvest season, which lasts 45-60 days.
• Spanning 270 hectares, 910 farms in the western part of the kingdom nurture 1.14 million bushes.
• Products derived from rose oil have a domestic market value of SR64 million (US$17 million).
A group of horticulturists from the Agricultural Extension Department was recently sent to Bulgaria, the Philippines and Thailand to learn about the latest technology in rose oil production and environmentally friendly farming practices.
Farmers receive expert guidance on best farming practices, with dedicated pest control teams responding quickly to pesticide spraying requests 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 is also leading the construction of key water infrastructure, including tanks and barriers, while facilitating the establishment of irrigation networks to boost agricultural activities.
Emphasizing the importance of sustainable practices, the ministry encourages small-scale rose growers 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 a value chain development strategy.
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“Taif governorate has long been recognized as the ideal and native environment for Taif rose bushes,” Bindakhil said.
“Generations have cared for these roses and passed down 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 at the top of the famous Jabal Ghazwan. “
One use for the rose water extracted from Taif roses is to wash the Kaaba in Mecca each year – a traditional practice maintained by the Saudi government.
The distillation process, which lasts nine to 12 hours, is done using tightly sealed copper pots. (AFP photo)
The Kingdom has many factories and workshops dedicated to extracting and manufacturing more than 80 products from rose derivatives, producing various aromatic products and body care items.
The rose industry plays an important role in regional development and the local economy, providing many job and marketing opportunities and encouraging more women to enter the labor market.
To extract the rose oil, sacks containing thousands of rose petals are poured into 90-liter copper pots, which are then sealed tightly for a distillation process that lasts nine to 12 hours.
It takes 45,000 roses to produce the oil extract, which is then poured into 12 milliliter bottles. (AFP photo)
It takes 45,000 roses to produce the oil extract, which is then poured into 12 milliliter bottles, the price of which starts at $400, depending on the season.
Established in 1831, Al-Kamal is the oldest factory producing rose-based cosmetics and cleaning products in the Kingdom. Located in Medina's Al-Hada, it is run by Khalid Al-Kamal, whose family has worked at the company for generations.
“It is a career passed down 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 told Arab News in a 2021 interview.
A view of the entrance to the Al-Kamal Rose Factory in Taif. (Shutterstock)
“Working in the field of growing roses requires a lot of delicacy, because the quality of the roses is affected by soil and weather as well as cultivation methods. I learned from my ancestors, and now my three sons manage the factory together with several workers.”
With many new government investments in the pipeline promoting the sustainable use of water resources, Saudi Arabia's rose industry will undoubtedly continue to flourish in the years to come.
