Fish resource category received the highest number of licenses, totaling 5,969 Licensing period ran from the beginning of July to the end of September JEDDAH: Saudi state-owned National Co. for Agricultural Services issued 9,683 agricultural licenses in the third quarter of the year to enhance food security and boost local production, said the CEO. Omar Al-Suhaibani highlighted that the licensing period ran from the beginning of July to the end of September. The company, known as AgriServ, is dedicated to empowering farmers, breeders, and commercial enterprises in the agricultural sector. The Kingdom has established a strategic plan for its agricultural sector that focuses on evaluating performance and formulating objectives across five key axes, including sustainability of natural resources, food security, societal welfare for farmers, economic contributions, and preventative measures. Despite its desert climate and limited water resources, the country emphasizes national policies and strategies that tackle critical issues such as food and water security, sustainable agricultural development, and ecological balance. These efforts reflect Saudi Arabia’s commitment to enhancing agricultural productivity while ensuring the responsible management of its natural resources. The CEO highlighted that the fish resource category received the highest number of licenses, totaling 5,969, followed by the plants division, which issued 2,476. Other categories included 677 permits for veterinary establishments, 286 for public benefit markets, and 275 for animal resources. Al-Suhaibani highlighted that beekeepers within the plant resource sector accounted for the highest number of licenses, with 1,486 issued. In the fish resource category, seasonal fishermen were granted 1,227 temporary fishing permits, while the veterinary business category registered 324 practice licenses. Authorizations for broiler chicken production led the animal resource category with 184 licenses, and there were 152 licenses for marketing service providers in public benefit markets. AgriServ is a Saudi government-owned company established in 2018 as one of the outcomes of the transformation program in the provision of agricultural services. It aims to provide high-quality and sustainable agricultural services to enhance operational efficiency, improve quality and productivity, and support the goals of agricultural sector development. The company is responsible for executing the services assigned by the Ministry of Environment, Water, and Agriculture on sustainable commercial grounds, while MEWA retains legislative, regulatory, and supervisory duties over the sector.