In northern Saudi Arabia, where dry winds sweep across sandy plains and water has always been scarce, potatoes have quietly become an export success. What once looked like an agricultural limitation in Hail is now shaping a growing supply chain that feeds global snack brands and overseas markets.
From harsh land to uniform harvests
In the Hail region, farming has never been easy. Summers can be mild, winters cut sharp, and the land itself doesn’t exactly invite optimism. Yet potatoes grown here come out remarkably consistent in size and shape, a detail that matters a lot in commercial food production.
The reason lies beneath the surface. Sandy soil gives potato tubers space to grow evenly, avoiding the deformities often caused by compacted ground. For exporters, that uniformity translates into higher acceptance rates and fewer losses.
Groundwater in the area is limited, and energy costs historically made large-scale cultivation difficult. For years, that reality capped ambition. Then the model changed.
Rethinking irrigation in a water-scarce region
Instead of expanding water use, farmers in Hail focused on precision. Drip irrigation systems replaced older methods, delivering water directly to plant roots with minimal waste.
Solar power entered the equation too, reducing reliance on conventional energy and lowering operating costs. Together, these changes reshaped how potatoes were grown, making production viable at scale without draining local resources.
This wasn’t a cosmetic fix. It was a structural shift.
The result was higher yields, better quality, and tighter control over inputs, all critical factors when supplying demanding international buyers.
Over time, Hail evolved into a strategic production hub, supporting domestic food security while also feeding export channels.
Government backing and industrial alignment
The shift didn’t happen in isolation. According to Bandar Alkhorayef, Saudi authorities worked closely with farmers and food manufacturers to solve practical barriers that stood in the way of exports.
One high-profile example involved PepsiCo, the producer of Lay’s potato chips. Potatoes grown locally met quality benchmarks, but water-related concerns complicated export approval.
The response was targeted. Saudi agencies, including the Ministry of Environment, Water, and Agriculture, collaborated to design an irrigation model suited specifically to potatoes intended for processing and export.
Alkhorayef explained that once this model was approved, the export issue was resolved. The fix wasn’t theoretical. It addressed real operational constraints and aligned agricultural practice with industrial needs.
That alignment changed the economics of potato farming in the Kingdom.
A supply chain built for export standards
Producing potatoes for export isn’t just about growing them. Timing, storage, transport, and processing all matter.
Hail’s farms now operate within a broader system designed to meet international standards, particularly for processed potato products like chips and frozen goods.
Key elements of that system include:
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Precision irrigation to ensure consistent crop quality
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Solar-powered energy systems to control costs
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Harvest schedules aligned with processing demand
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Cold-chain logistics that preserve quality during transport
Each link reduces risk. Each step makes Saudi potatoes more competitive.
It’s also why global food companies are increasingly comfortable sourcing from the Kingdom.
Economic impact beyond the farm
The potato story in Hail has ripple effects. Local employment has expanded, from farm operations to logistics and processing. Supporting industries, including equipment maintenance and renewable energy services, have grown alongside agriculture.
There’s also a policy dimension. By reducing reliance on imports and building export capacity, Saudi Arabia strengthens its food balance sheet, something that matters in an unpredictable global market.
For a crop as ordinary as potatoes, the impact is surprisingly broad.
And yes, challenges remain. Water management still requires constant monitoring. Climate variability adds pressure. Markets shift. But the system now has resilience built in.
A quiet lesson in agricultural adaptation
This isn’t a story of overnight success. It unfolded gradually, shaped by constraint rather than abundance.
In Hail, farmers didn’t fight the desert. They worked with it. Sandy soil became an asset. Scarce water forced efficiency. Energy limits pushed innovation.
The outcome is a crop that meets strict export criteria and feeds international supply chains, grown in a place few would have expected.
In a region better known for oil than agriculture, potatoes have become an unlikely ambassador.
