The economic dimension of directing treated wastewater to the production of green fodder in Saudi Arabia |
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Authors: | Adel M. Ghanem Khaled N. Al-Ruwis Safar H. Alqahtani Othman S. Al-Nashwan Abdul-Aziz M. Al-Duwais Mohamad A. Alnafissa Jawad Alhashem Sahar A. Kamara Sharafeldin B. Alaagib Nageeb M. Aldawdahi |
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Affiliation: | 1. Department of Agricultural Economics, College of Food and Agricultural Sciences, King Saud University, P.O. Box 2460, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia;2. Ministry of Agriculture and Land Reclamation, Agricultural Economics Research Institute, Egypt;3. Department of Agricultural Extension, College of Food and Agricultural Sciences, King Saud University, P.O. Box 2460, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia |
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Abstract: | This study aimed to identify the economic dimension of directing treated wastewater to the production of green fodder. To achieve its objectives, the study relied on economic equations, the method of using multiple criteria, and a scoring technique for prioritization. The study showed that green fodder is a crop that depletes water, as it consumes about 67.27% of the water used for agricultural purposes. In determining the priority of regions intending to use treated wastewater, the ranking put Riyadh region first, followed by the eastern region, the Qassim region, Hail, Makkah Al-Mukarramah, Tabuk, Asir, Al-Jawf, Jizan, Madinah, Najran, the northern borders, and Al-Baha, in this order. The area that can be cultivated with forage crops is estimated to be about 53.05 thousand hectares, with a production of 953.75 thousand tons. The cost of treating wastewater to make it usable amounts to 2126.22 million riyals, while the value of the benefits gained from its use is 2508.95 million riyals; thus, the Saudi agricultural economy achieves a net gain estimated at about 382.73 million riyals annually. Therefore, this study recommends the use of treated wastewater in the production of green fodder. |
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Keywords: | Treated wastewater Green fodder Priority regions Gains and losses Kingdom of Saudi Arabia |
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