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.
ABSTRACT
This research measures the impact of water scarcity on agricultural economic development and economic development indicators in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia during 1995-2018. By examining the current status of available water resources and their uses, and estimating a model to study the impact of water scarcity on agricultural economic development. The study relied on descriptive and standard economic analysis to estimate the proposed regression model. It found that a 10% change in the amount of water resources available leads to a 5.1% change in the same direction of the crop area. A 10% change in the estimated crop area results in a 1.5% change in the same direction of the total agricultural output value. A 10% change in employment and agricultural loans leads to a change in the same direction of the aggregate agricultural output value of 5.1% and 7.2%, respectively. A 10% change in the total value of the estimated agricultural output leads to a 2.9% change in the same direction of GDP. Thus, a lack of water resources will decrease the crop area and have a negative impact on the value of agricultural output, thereby impacting GDP. We therefore include policy recommendations for the conservation of water resources: The government should stop the export of virtual water, particularly for water-depleting products; an economic accounting framework for water should be introduced to monitor the amount of water in excess of the water codification for various crops prevailing in the crop composition.
