Climate-Smart Agriculture Gains Momentum as Saudi Farmers Battle Extreme Weather

Saudi Arabia is rapidly adopting Climate-Smart Agriculture, such as climate-resilient seeds and drip irrigation to protect food production from rising temperatures, water scarcity and extreme weather. A review by Princess Nourah University and Inner Mongolia University shows that education, technology access and government support are key drivers of this transition.

Saudi Arabia’s agricultural sector is confronting unprecedented environmental pressure, and a new study by researchers from Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University in Riyadh and Inner Mongolia University in China offers the most comprehensive picture to date of how the Kingdom is adopting Climate-Smart Agriculture (CSA) to cope. Drawing on 78 peer-reviewed studies published between 2010 and 2023, the review shows that farmers are increasingly turning to climate-resilient seeds, water-efficient irrigation systems and conservation tillage as rising temperatures, groundwater depletion and unpredictable rainfall challenge traditional farming. The analysis reveals that CSA adoption has grown steadily across major agricultural regions, though uptake remains uneven and strongly shaped by socio-economic conditions, institutional support and local climate pressures.

Seeds, Sensors, and Survival

The review finds that climate-resilient seeds are the most widely reported CSA practice, highlighted in 21 studies and essential for coping with heat stress and drought in hotspots like Al-Qassim, Riyadh and the Eastern Province. Next come drip and micro-irrigation systems, reported in 19 studies and vital in a country where agriculture uses more than 85 percent of freshwater. These technologies are helping reduce water loss, improve crop productivity and align farming practices with the national sustainability goals set under Vision 2030. Conservation or zero tillage, documented in 16 studies, is also gaining traction as a cost-effective strategy to slow soil degradation, reduce fuel use and maintain moisture in fragile desert soils. The authors note, however, that soil-health practices such as mulching, cover cropping and organic amendments remain comparatively under-studied despite their potential benefits.

Regions Moving at Different Speeds

CSA adoption varies sharply across Saudi Arabia’s agricultural map. Al-Qassim and Riyadh emerge as leaders, reflecting strong research focus, better access to technology and more institutional support. Meanwhile, areas such as Asir and Madinah show emerging but limited evidence of CSA integration, not due to lack of need but due to fewer studies, lower investment and smaller-scale farm structures. Socio-economic factors strongly influence adoption: education is the most important driver, followed by landholding size, livestock ownership, farming experience and access to credit. Farmers with larger land parcels, better training or financial backing tend to adopt CSA earlier. Digital tools are also starting to influence behavior, particularly mobile-based climate advisories, weather alerts and radio programs that help farmers optimize planting schedules and manage climate risks.

Climate Shocks Accelerating Change

The study makes clear that climate change itself is playing an increasingly direct role in forcing adaptation. Rising temperatures and shorter winters repeatedly appear as triggers for CSA uptake, pushing farmers toward heat-tolerant varieties and altered planting calendars. Declining rainfall and delayed seasonal patterns are compelling shifts to drought-tolerant crops and more efficient irrigation systems. Frequent droughts, sandstorms and occasional floods are also reshaping crop choices and encouraging greater experimentation with diversification and water-harvesting systems. Although groundwater depletion is a defining national challenge, surprisingly few studies examine its direct effects on CSA adoption, a gap the authors argue must be urgently filled given the country’s accelerating aquifer decline.

Toward a Climate-Smart Future

One of the study’s most significant insights is how CSA contributes to national and global sustainability goals. By improving yields and stabilizing food production under stress, CSA advances SDG 2 (Zero Hunger) and SDG 1 (No Poverty). Water-efficient irrigation supports SDG 6, while practices such as reduced tillage and improved soil fertility help reduce emissions, contributing to SDG 13. Some CSA interventions also benefit women by reducing labor burdens and enabling greater participation in farm decision-making. The authors stress that for CSA to reach its full potential, Saudi Arabia must expand farmer training centers, strengthen ICT-based extension, increase investment in climate-resilient seeds and align subsidies with water-saving technologies. They call for a national CSA roadmap under Vision 2030 to coordinate research institutes, government agencies and private partners. Ultimately, the study concludes that while Saudi Arabia has taken meaningful steps toward climate-smart farming, the speed and inclusiveness of future adoption will determine the country’s ability to secure food production in an era of intensifying climate change.