800 Tons of Prickly Pear Boost Agricultural Production in Al-Baha

The prickly pear, locally known as “Barshoumi" is gaining prominence as a promising agricultural crop in Al-Baha Region, with annual production reaching about 800 tons across an estimated cultivated area of 15.2 hectares.

 This highlights the crop’s presence within the region’s agricultural production system and its potential for economic expansion in production, processing and marketing.

 Prickly pear cultivation is closely linked to Al-Baha’s agricultural environment, whose terrain varies from mountainous highlands to valleys and plains.

 The region is also home to extensive agricultural terraces that have helped shape its agricultural landscape over decades. Barshoumi is among the seasonal crops for which Al-Baha is known, reaching local markets and other parts of Saudi Arabia.

 Prickly pear has a wide range of uses, extending to food industries, oil extraction from its seeds, and its use in certain personal care and cosmetic products. This gives the crop opportunities for growth in the manufacturing sector and enhances the potential for developing higher-value products linked to local agricultural production.

 Processing is an important avenue for maximizing returns from the crop’s annual production by converting part of the harvest into products that can be marketed year-round and expanding its range of uses. This also creates opportunities for farmers, entrepreneurs, and small and medium-sized enterprises to engage in activities related to processing, packaging and marketing.