Saudi Farmers Turn to AI for Smarter Water Management in Mango Orchards
JEDDAH — A farm in the mountains of southern Saudi Arabia is using smart agricultural tools to improve mango crop quality, conserve water, and increase production, serving as a model for sustainable farming in the Kingdom.
Haswa Mango Farm, also known as Abdullah Saad Al-Zalfi Farm, covers roughly 20,000 square meters in the village of Hiswah, about an 80-minute drive from Rijal Almaa governorate. It contains around 150 mango trees and was established in early 2019.
Jamal Al-Zalfi, who comes from a family with generations of farming experience in Rijal Almaa, told Arab News that the main motivation for bringing in technology was to obtain accurate information for decision-making, particularly in irrigation scheduling, detecting nutrient deficiencies, and identifying pests early.
The farm uses soil-moisture sensors and a specialized magnifier to analyze leaf images. The system determines irrigation needs based on moisture readings and helps detect diseases and nutrient problems. Equipment includes a soil detector, plant inspection magnifier, water salinity meter, and wind speed monitor.
Al-Zalfi said the technology helped achieve a flowering rate of more than 98 percent during the 2026 season, with flowering starting earlier than in previous years. Irrigation water consumption dropped by about 50 percent without affecting tree health, while production increased by at least 40 percent.
The farm grows several mango varieties, including Tommy Atkins, Angra, Sindri, and Glen. Its 2026 production has reached about five tonnes, with average annual output around four tonnes.
The farm also uses mobile applications to help diagnose plant diseases and has begun developing its own system to monitor operations and provide recommendations. It relies mainly on seasonal rainwater for irrigation and uses well water during dry periods after testing for quality.
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