Al-aqiq: Farmers in Al-Aqiq Governorate, located in Al-Baha Region, began harvesting dates from the area's palm farms, marking the start of the locally known 'Khirfah' season - the annual date harvest - amid vibrant agricultural, economic, and social activity.
According to Saudi Press Agency, Al-Aqiq is considered one of Al-Baha's most prominent agricultural areas for date production. It is home to approximately 1,600 palm farms with more than 130,000 palm trees, yielding an estimated 40 tons of dates annually. The harvest includes a variety of high-quality local types such as Safri, Khalas, Sukkari, and Barhi.
The director of the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture branch in Al-Baha Region, Eng. Fahad Al-Zahrani, noted that the season is one of the most significant agricultural events, reflecting the superior quality of dates produced in the region, particularly in Al-Aqiq. He emphasized that the ministry supports palm farmers through agricultural guidance programs and incentive initiatives aimed at improving productivity, increasing operational efficiency, and enhancing the added value of date production.