The Economic of Applying Organic Agriculture for Tomatoes and Potatoes in Riyadh Region

The main objective of this study is to thoroughly examine the variations between the actual and targeted consumption levels of chemical fertilizers in Saudi agriculture. In addition, an inspection of the impacts of subordinate consumption on the production of tomatoes and potatoes from the economic point of view is achieved. Both partial adjustment models and simulation models are used. Some of the study results are that: (1) Saudi agriculture depends heavily on the use of nitrate fertilizers. Their share is estimated at 55.4% whereas phosphate and potash shares are estimated at 38.4% and 6.2%, respectively, during the period 1980-2003. (2) During the same period, the actual levels of consuming of total chemical fertilizers have become close to those of the targeted. The actual level is found to be set at 91.5% of the targeted one which is estimated at 395.83 thousand tons.(3) It is anticipated that, under the policy of reducing the consumption of both chemical fertilizers and pesticides with more manure use proportionately, that production, total costs of production, gross, and net returns would decline for tomatoes and potatoes but higher farm prices would be realized due to improvements in the quality of these products. The study, accordingly, recommends that the environmental aspects should be taken under consideration when developing Saudi agriculture throughout the different Region of Saudi Arabia