Responsibilities and functions:
• Establish legislation and regulations related to plant production and distribution of production capacity according to the comparative advantage.
• Identify priorities and objectives of investment in the agriculture sector and ensure that they are aligned with strategic directions in coordination with the concerned sector departments.
• Develop plans and programs to expand organic production.
• Develop plans, programs, research requirements and agendas aimed at enhancing and increasing production, production efficiency and diversity of agricultural products in coordination with the General Directorate of Plant Health, Locusts Control and Migratory Pests Center and the General Directorate of Agricultural Research.
• Improve all agricultural production systems according to the comparative advantage of the regions in coordination with the General Directorate of Plant Health and the Locusts Control and Migratory Pests Center.
• Maintain and develop local plant species.
• Approve and disseminate plant species and use appropriate techniques to increase productivity and improve quality in coordination with the concerned research centers.
• Set out standards to improve the quality of plant products from production to marketing to meet the needs of the consumer through the application of biosecurity system in coordination with the concerned government agencies such as (Saudi Standards, Metrology and Quality Organization, Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs, Saudi Food and Drug Authority, General Authority for Meteorology and Environmental Protection, etc.
• Develop a database for plant projects and make them available to stakeholders.
• Develop mechanisms for optimal use of animal waste (e.g. fertilizer and compost) in coordination with interested parties.
• Identify the relevant certification bodies based on the approved international standards and controls (ISO).
• Develop plans, programs and visitation schedule for the certification bodies.
• Ensure the application of standards and specifications of agricultural inputs and machinery in accordance with approved policies and procedures.
• Registration of agricultural input materials in accordance with the scientific controls.
• Develop and implement specifications and standards for agricultural machinery.
• Set out standards and controls for issuing import and export permits for agricultural inputs.
• Set out the criteria for issuing permits and licenses in accordance with the policies and procedures adopted in coordination with the relevant authorities.
• Monitoring the implementation of services related to agriculture (registration of items, etc..)
The General Directorate of Plant Production comprises 5 departments:
1) Plant Production Department
2) Organic Production Department
3) Plant Services Department
4) Seeds and Seed Tubers Center
5) Apiaries and Honey Production Center
1- Plant Production Department
Objectives:
Preparing and implementing Pursuant to a decree issued by the Minister No. 49813 dated 10/11 / 1436H (corresponding to 24/8/2015), the Plant Production Department was established. It is directly linked to the Deputy-Ministry for Agriculture.
plans and programs for plant production aimed at achieving food security and sustainability of natural resources in accordance with the comparative advantages of agricultural areas.
Responsibilities and functions:
1. Implementing policies, plans, programs and studies related to the development of plant production within the framework of the general plan of the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture.
2. Increasing the production of strategic crops according to the comparative advantages of the Kingdom's regions and the requirements of sustainable agriculture.
3. Developing the necessary programs to encourage the cultivation of high-quality crops of economic and strategic importance in areas with comparative advantages according to the availability of renewable natural resources.
4. Improving management staff performance.
5. Supporting and encouraging the expansion of protected agriculture to increase productivity and rationalize the consumption of water and other natural resources.
6. Supporting the use of new technologies in agriculture to increase productivity, contribute to the sustainability of natural resources, and achieve food security.
7. Following up plant product quality and safety and ensuring that they are suitable for consumption, and coordinating with the relevant authorities.
8. Following up the implementation of plant production programs in rural development projects.
9. Establishing a database for plant production in the Kingdom.
10. Participating in the preparation of information programs related to plant production.
11. Participating in the preparation of promotion activities programs for the plant production in coordination with the relevant authorities in the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture.
12. Performing any other functions that are related to the nature of its work or under the laws and resolutions in force or assigned to it.
Organizational Chart:
1- Horticultural Crops Production Division:
Responsibilities and functions:
1. Developing studies and propose policies related to the production of horticultural crops (fruits, vegetables, ornamental plants) in cooperation with relevant authorities.
2. Proposing agricultural research fields for horticultural crops production.
3. Developing farming systems to rationalize the use of water and environmental resources and implementing them in horticultural crops production.
4. Developing the productivity of horticultural crops (fruits, vegetables, ornamental plants) in accordance with the comparative advantages of the Kingdom's regions and the requirements of sustainable agriculture.
5. Developing technical instructions for the production of horticultural crops.
6. Developing instructions regulating the production, import and export of horticultural crops.
7. Preparing horticultural products programs in rural development projects and monitoring its implementation.
8. Following up on emergency situations affecting horticultural crops, such as frost and disease, and reducing risks on production.
9. Participating in the preparation of technical instructions for the production and dissemination of certified local seeds and tubers.
10. Carrying out any other tasks and duties assigned by the Division Director in the area of competence.
2- Field Crops Production Division:
Responsibilities and functions:
1. Prepare studies and propose policies related to the production of field crops (cereals and fodder) in cooperation with relevant authorities.
2. Propose research topics on agricultural research on crop production.
3. Develop the productivity of strategic crops (grain and fodder) according to the comparative advantages of the Kingdom's regions and the requirements of sustainable agriculture.
4. Develop the necessary programs to encourage the cultivation of high-quality strategic crops.
5. Develop plans and projects necessary to support the use of modern technology in agriculture to increase productivity and contribute to the sustainability of natural resources and food security.
6. Develop field crops programs in rural development projects and monitoring their implementation.
7. Monitoring emergency situations affecting the field crops, such as frost and disease, and work to reduce their risks to production.
8. Carry out any other tasks and duties assigned to the division according to its field of competence.
3- Administrative Services Division:
Responsibilities and functions:
1- Receive correspondence received through Documents and Administrative Communications Center, including documents, reports, instructions, and other transactions, distribute them to specialists in the Division, and follow up on them.
2- Receive the letters issued after being signed and sent to the Documents and Administrative Communications Center.
3- Respond to all inquiries related to correspondence issued to and from the Division.
4- Indexing and archiving copies of transactions issued and retrieve them on request.
5- Take appropriate regulatory measures to provide office furniture supplies, stationery etc. needed for the Division,
6- Provide the necessary assistance to meet the needs of administrative management.
7- Make the appropriate transport arrangements needed for official duties.
8- Undertake the necessary procedures for staff affairs and and entitlements, in coordination with the HR Department.
9- Perform the necessary financial and accounting work and apply the existing procedures, in coordination with the Finance Department.
10- Data collection and disaggregation for the Division's draft budget and apply the procedures and instructions for preparing the budget, in coordination with the Administrative Development Department and Budget Department.
11- Carry out any other tasks and duties assigned to the division according to its field of competence.
Achievements:
1- Studying the crops composition of each region of the Kingdom according to the comparative advantage of the regions.
2- Implementing the initiative of Rehabilitate Agricultural Terraces and Apply Rainwater Harvesting Techniques in the Kingdom’s Southwestern Region.
2- Organic Production Department
Overview:
3- Plant Services Department
Achievements:
1) Issuing more than five thousand import and export permits (2631 import permits for seeds and seedlings, 1361 import permits for fertilizers, 1142 import permits for pesticides, 99 export permits for seeds and palms, 635 export permits for fertilizers, 233 export permits for pesticides).
2) Registering 130 fertilizer formulas after making sure they are complied with the GCC Fertilizers and Soil Conditioners Law, submitting the required documents and registering or re-registering 96 agricultural pesticides.
3) Registering 50 foreign companies supplying the Kingdom.
4) Issuing 88 letters of support to the Ministry of Commerce adding agricultural activities to the citizens' commercial registration.
5) Providing agricultural Subsidies worth SR 68.853.944 for date production for smallholder farmers, SR 13,900,698 for cereals production (maize-millet) and SR 1,188,900 for mango production for small farmers. The total amount disbursed from Chapter V, item 254 agricultural subsidies is (SR 83.873.542).
6) Issuing 63 letters of credit with technical description and serial numbers of subsidised agricultural machinery.
7) Pricing 610 agricultural machinery.
8) The Seeds and Seed Tubers Center achieved the following:
- Re-examining the regulation of importing potato seed tubers and address the competent authorities to prepare the initial draft of the project.
- Registering 47 new seed varieties after completing the required documents and procedures in accordance to the Law (Regulation) Concerning Seeds, Seed Tubers and Seedlings
- Registering companies importing seeds after verifying the required documents in accordance to the Law (Regulation) Concerning Seeds, Seed Tubers and Seedlings.
9) The Plant Services Division has participated in:
- Inspection committees in Riyadh to seize violations of pesticides and fertilizers laws and brought violators to the sanctions committee.
- Sanctions committees to implement the sanctions on violators.
- Technical teams in the Gulf Cooperation Council and the Committee of Agricultural Systems and Policies in the GCC states.
- The committees of the Ministry of Interior related to the implementation of the Council of Ministers' Resolution No. 133 concerning regulating the import of nitrate.
- The Committee for the registration of agricultural pesticides and organizing its work.
4- Seeds and Seed Tubers Center
Responsibilities and functions:
1) Issuing import and export permits for seeds and seed tubers and submitting the required documents.
2) Registration of companies supplying the Kingdom.
3) Adding agricultural activities to the citizens' commercial registrations in coordination with the Ministry of Commerce.
4) Studying the regulation of importing seed tubers to the Kingdom.
5) Registration new seed varieties after completing the required documents and procedures in accordance with the regulations of the Law (Regulation) Concerning Seeds, Seed Tubers and Seedlings.
6) Registration of companies importing seeds after verifying the required documents in accordance with the regulations of seeds, seed tubers and seedlings law.
5- Apiaries and Honey Production Department
Responsibilities and functions:
1) Dissemination of enhanced varieties as well as supervision on queen rearing stations.
2) Production of queen bees and bee swarms for the Ministry's queen bee rearing stations and extension areas.
3) Providing extension services to beekeepers through 16 training apiaries in the regions of the Kingdom, as well as 4 queen bee rearing stations and bee swarms' production to support the training apiaries.
4) Encouraging the production of local honey and taking into account the quality standards.
5) Transferring modern technologies to beekeepers to improve the quantity and quality of production and reduce its cost and thus increase income while preserving the environment and natural resources.
6) Production of 250 bee swarms and 50 virgin queen bees for the Ministry's queen bee rearing stations and extension areas.
Table showing the distribution of training apiaries, stations and training centers affiliated to the Ministry. #
| Directorate-Department | Apiaries | | 1 | Riyadh | Bee swarm's production & queen bee rearing station in Namar-Valley | | 2 | Taif
| Bee swarm's production & queen bee rearing station | | 3 | Al Baha | Bee swarm's production & queen bee rearing station | | 4 | Unayzah | Bee swarm's production & queen bee rearing station | | 5 | Jazan | Training apiary in Sabia | | 6 | Asir | Training apiary in Al Assan | | 7 | Asir | Training apiary e in Rijal Alma
| | 8 | Asir | Training apiary in Al-Namas | | 9 | Eastern Province | Training apiary in Al Dammam | | 10 | Al-Ahsa | Training apiary | | 11 | Hail | Training apiary | | 12 | Najran | Training apiary | | 13 | Makkah | Training apiary in Al Ardiyat | | 14 | Al Madinah | Training apiantre | | 15 | Al Qassim | Training Center | | 16 | Al Ahsa | Training Center | | 17 | Makkah | Training apiary | | 18 | Wadi Al-Dawasir | Training apiary | | 19 | Asir | Training apiary | | 20 | Northern Borders | Training apiary in Arar |
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