Abha, 29 Rajab 1447 AH (18 January 2026)

Prince Turki bin Talal bin Abdulaziz, Governor of Asir, will tomorrow patronise the opening of the third Millet Festival in Bariq Governorate, about 120 kilometres north of Abha. The festival is supervised by the Asir branch of the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture and organised by the Bariq Agricultural Cooperative Society, with a number of government and private bodies taking part.

The festival affirms the economic dimension of local crops by supporting farmers, empowering productive families and strengthening the agricultural value chain for millet, helping improve marketing, open direct sales channels and stimulate trade in the governorate.

It features corners displaying millet and its derivatives, information stands for bodies linked to the agricultural sector, participation by local farmers and productive families, and awareness programmes and accompanying events highlighting the crop's investment opportunities and its role in sustainable economic returns.

The festival is expected to draw visitors and enthusiasts of agricultural products and food heritage. It takes place at the Palm Walkway in Bariq and welcomes visitors daily in the evening, boosting agricultural tourism and the local economy.

Millet is one of Bariq's oldest crops, well suited to the local environment and high in nutritional value. The Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture is paying it increasing attention as a promising national product, supporting its cultivation and developing its production and marketing to strengthen agricultural sustainability in line with Vision 2030.