Riyadh (UNA/SPA) – Advisor to the Royal Court and Supervisor General of the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre (KSrelief), Dr. Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al-Rabeeah, launched the “Seed” initiative in Riyadh today to empower small rural producers outside the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, in the presence of Deputy Minister of Environment, Water and Agriculture, Eng. Mansour bin Hilal Al-Mushaiti.
Dr. Abdullah Al Rabeeah delivered a speech on this occasion, saying: “Today, we celebrate together the launch of the ‘Seed’ initiative, which stems from a firm belief that true development begins when people are empowered to advance themselves. It is therefore a promise of sustainability and an embodiment of the idea that the smallest thing sown yields the greatest reward.”
He pointed out that King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre believes that giving is not complete unless it is transformed into empowerment. Therefore, “Badhra” came to transform suffering into opportunities that open broad horizons for the targeted communities by relying on themselves to overcome the effects of disasters and rise again. He explained that from this conviction, “Badhra” embarks on a journey that brings together the expertise of our national institutions, foremost among them the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture, and our partners from UN, international and local organizations in countries with humanitarian need to form a harmonious system that yields profound results in accordance with established national values. In appreciation of the importance of transforming this initiative into a tangible reality, the Centre has been keen to launch qualitative projects concerned with community agriculture, technical support, vocational training, financing small rural projects, and marketing their products through innovative and sustainable means.
At the end of his speech, Dr. Al Rabeeah called on the Center's partners, including supporting entities, major donors, the private sector, civil society, and social responsibility leaders, to join this global initiative. He asked God Almighty that this "seed" be a blessed plant that produces goodness, yields bounty, and spreads hope for a brighter tomorrow where people can live a dignified life, regardless of the circumstances.
For his part, His Excellency the Deputy Minister of Environment, Water and Agriculture, Eng. Mansour bin Hilal Al-Mushaiti, explained that the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre has become a humanitarian and global legacy and a distinctly Saudi mark. He explained that the partnership with the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre aims to link action with impact, development with relief, and giving with empowerment, to achieve community development, national prosperity, and sustainable impact.
Engineer Al-Mushaiti pointed out that the partnership between the ministry and the center is based on three pillars: enhancing sustainability through cooperation between the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center and the National Center for Sustainable Agriculture Research and Development (Estidama); transferring Saudi knowledge and expertise through cooperation between the center and the Saudi Rural Academy; and developing the countryside inside and outside the Kingdom through a partnership between the center and the Saudi Rural Program.
Engineer Al-Mushaiti noted that the Kingdom has become a global model for sustainable development and relief, and that the Saudi experience has become a reference for global utilization. He also noted that cooperation maximizes impact, ensuring that the Kingdom's generosity reaches every place aid reaches. He stated that the factors for success include the support and empowerment of the wise leadership—may God protect it—belief in national capabilities, and integration between the government, private, and non-profit sectors.
Afterwards, everyone watched a documentary about the "Seed" initiative, which highlighted the importance of the Seed Project and its vital role in supporting small rural producers around the world in areas affected by crises and disasters. These include farmers, livestock breeders, beekeepers, and fishermen, from the moment they are supplied with seeds and raw materials and trained, to the moment they market their products and reap financial returns. This will benefit local communities and support their self-sufficiency.
The Center subsequently signed five agreements with several local entities with the aim of enhancing bilateral cooperation in the areas of exchanging expertise and building capacity in related fields, cooperation in research studies, relief and humanitarian programs, and support for comprehensive agricultural development.
At the conclusion of the ceremony, His Excellency Dr. Abdullah Al Rabeeah honored the sponsors of the launch ceremony of the “Seed” initiative.
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