RIYADH: In an effort to improve global food security, Saudi aid agency KSrelief launched an initiative on Wednesday in Riyadh aimed at transforming small rural farm producers from aid recipients into active participants.
Among developing countries, the agency is taking the Bathraa initiative first into Yemen, where almost half of the population struggles with severe food insecurity. KSrelief officials hope to address the urgent needs of Yemenis while building long-term agricultural resilience.
Dr. Abdullah Al-Rabeeah, supervisor-general of KSrelief, told Arab News that Bathraa is among various initiatives undertaken by the agency “to empower communities, especially fragile communities globally, in the region and beyond, to ensure that we reach the sustainable development goals of the UN.”
He added: “If we look at Bathraa, it actually converts people, or communities, from being dependent on food to making food for themselves by supporting agriculture, farming, honey production, fishing, and you name it.”
The aim, he said, is to transform Bathraa “from a small initiative to a global initiative that will be supported by the UN, international communities, local governmental agencies, and NGOs.”
While more than 70 percent of Yemen’s population relies on agriculture, the country still imports 90 percent of its food. Initiatives such as Bathraa are therefore highly beneficial for these communities.
The Arabic word bathraa means “seed,” reflecting KSrelief’s goal to reduce dependency through comprehensive agricultural empowerment. Unlike other KSrelief initiatives that typically collaborate with UN agencies, Bathraa takes a different approach by leveraging Saudi Arabia’s own agricultural strengths.
It partners with the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture, the Saudi Reef Academy, the National Research and Development Center for Sustainable Agriculture, and the Cooperative Societies Council for this humanitarian program.
Through these collaborations, local communities will gain access to advanced technologies, sustainable farming methods, and technical expertise.
Bathraa follows a structured process, starting with field assessments, capacity building, provision of agricultural equipment and solar energy solutions, value chain enhancement, and the establishment of model farms.
KSrelief plans to extend its work beyond Yemen to other nations with similar conditions, creating a new model for humanitarian aid aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
