VIDEO: One coffee farmer’s journey in the Kingdom’s southwest

Abu Awwad, coffee farmer

I leave home at sunrise, get to the farm, prepare the coffee pot, and drink my coffee.

After that, I water the trees. These plants need special care. Maintaining a farm is a lot of work since they require constant organizing and cleaning.

I understand that because I grew up with these trees and have cared for them since I was young. 

I spend my days on the farm with my family.

My 5-year-old son helps me during harvest time. The way he holds the branches and leaves reminds me of myself when I was younger.

The initiative taught us things we didn’t know about farming — from organizing, caring for the trees, marking our product, and more.

Even when it comes to the way we plant, preparing the seedlings, preparing the soil, and so much more. 

Aisha Al-Ghazwani, engineer, Jazan Mountains Development Authority

This is where coffee seeds are planted. They become seedlings nine to 12 months later and are given to the farmers benefiting from Aramco’s coffee initiative.

One of the components of the training provided to farmers includes field visits where farmers are introduced to best practices for producing coffee trees.

Abu Awwad

If you came here almost five years ago, this entire village had around 500 coffee trees. today, it has around 5,000 to 6,000 trees.

Some customers come to buy coffee beans, and sometimes they ask for green coffee beans.

Since the initiative started, farmers compete to be the best.

Thanks to God, things have improved.