Agricultural Dept.

First: Beginning of giving process:

From the belief of the honorable businessman Sheikh Saleh Abdul Aziz Al Rajhi of his role in enhancement and support of procession of comprehensive construction and development in our beloved country, the idea of entering the scope of agriculture cropped up, and Al Qassim region was selected to be the start point, as it is distinguished with abundance of ground water and good soil suitable for agriculture.

Sheikh Saleh Abdul Aziz Al Rajhi Endowment Management was established in 1417H. The Agricultural Department which belong to Endowment Management, supervise over three agricultural projects within the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, specialized in planting date palms in order to produce the best dates and the best class of seedlings, as the number of palm trees is more than quarter of million of palm tree and a new plant, and fruitful palm tree, containing more than fifty type of various of palm tree that provide central region of the Kingdom.

Sheikh Saleh Abdul Aziz Al Rajhi endowed these projects in 1417H corresponding to 1997 among his benevolent endowments in order that its revenue to be distributed on the various charitable expenditures.
 

Second: Locaation of Agricultural Department and Projects belong to it:

Al Batin palm tree project which lies in south east of Buraydah City was selected to be the permanent Headquarters of Agricultural Department in view of its vast area compared with the two other projects.
The three projects that are supervised by Agricultural Department are:
 

1- Al Batin Project:

Al Batin project is considered the largest agricultural project of dates palms in Middle East and perhaps in the world in view of the vastness of its area which reaches 5466 hectares and it contains (200000) palm tree, and types of palm trees is approximately 45 types of the prevailing palm trees in central region of Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
This project lies south east of Buraydah City, in Qassim region. In this project Sheikh Saleh Abdul Aziz Al Rajhi concentrated on plantation of wheat, parley, water melon and vegetables in addition to various types of fruitful dates palms. In 1413H corresponding to 1993 Sheikh Saleh gave his instructions for expansion in planting palm tree trees in order to replace it gradually in place of wheat, parley and water melon. In 1415H corresponding to 1995 about 63000 seedlings of the various types of palm trees was planted, then the plan of expansion continued in planting afterwards until the total number reached (200000) palm tree in the project. Scientific recommendations and technical rules were considered in planting the seedlings which were planted in a regular distances (10x10 meters) as per recommendations of Ministry of Agriculture. The project is irrigated by a modern irrigation network.

 

The year 1426H witnessed an important event, which is the registration of AL-Batim palm tree Project in Guinness Record for General Information and Standard Achievements as the hugest palm tree project around the world.
 

2- Durma Project:

Durma project is characterized by its strategic location and its nearness from Riyadh and its area which reaches 760 hectares, and its homogenous palm trees in size and age approximately, regular distances of planting, and because it contain the best types of palm tree such as KHULAS, and for the success of planting Tissue palm trees in it such as NABAT SAIF type and for its good fertile soil, and suitability of water of its wells, and low water table in it. All these merits made Durma project have a special distinguished rank among the projects of Agricultural Department . Sheikh Saleh Abdul Aziz Al Rajhi had the habit of cultivating wheat and parley in this project until 1413H corresponding to 1993. Then after that he gave his instruction to replace palm trees trees in the areas of wheat and parley. This was implemented in three stages beginning from March 1994 until 1996 where the total number currently reached (50000) palm tree of different types, and that which is suitable with Riyadh region climate in particular. Scientific recommendations and technical rules were also considered in planting the seedlings which is planted at a regular distances (10x10 meters) according to the scientific recommendations. The whole project is irrigated with a modern irrigation network.
 

3- Al Hayer and Al Tawfiq Project:

In 1383H Sheikh Saleh Abdel Aziz Al Rajhi purchased Al Hayer and Al Tawfiq project which lie east of Riyadh City. Its area is 30 hectares, at that time the total number of palm tree in it was 260, 125 palm trees in Al Hayer project and 135 palm tress in Al Tawfiq project.
Sheikh Saleh Abdul Aziz Al Rajhi had the habit of expansion in planting palm trees until the total number in the project now reached (2085) of different types of palm tree which provides Riyadh region. The palm tree project is irrigated by irrigation network modified to be compatible with modern irrigation systems.