The visitor to the "Dairy and Food Festival," currently held in Al-Kharj, is transported back to the 1950s to experience the story behind the idea that transformed the area into a hub for one of the most vital industries, specifically at the "King Abdulaziz Agricultural Project" pavilion. This project marked a turning point towards modern agriculture in the Kingdom, as envisioned by King Abdulaziz bin Abdulrahman Al Saud, establishing Al-Kharj as the capital of dairy production and agricultural output, which later embraced major agricultural projects and dairy factories, becoming a food basket that enriches the entire nation and supplies the Gulf markets.
The location is an enriching journey that introduces the dimensions of King Abdulaziz’s idea, starting from the project in 1354 AH, and its objectives with a vision looking towards the future of the country. It was the first seed towards achieving the concept of local food security. The project was inaugurated in 1358 AH in Al-Kharj due to its abundance of water over an area exceeding 24,000 hectares in both Al-Suhba and Khafas Daghrah, attracting foreign experts and bringing in advanced agricultural machinery at the time.
The identity and design details of the pavilion reflect the actual environment of the project. The exhibits included models of milk packaging and dairy products, alongside a collection of photographs documenting aspects of the project’s history, as well as others highlighting its added value and advanced stage at the time on a regional level, showcased through visits from leaders and officials from several countries.
This project was the first to utilize modern machinery and devices in the field of agriculture in the Kingdom, serving as a catalyst for the private sector to engage in investment projects, which have now become some of the largest projects in the region, significantly contributing to meeting the Kingdom’s needs for agricultural products and livestock.
The agricultural project marks an era characterized by knowledge transfer that introduced traditional farmers to modern methods in agriculture and livestock, along with guiding programs and cooperative empowerment with small livestock breeders and investment aspects. The exhibited photo archive throughout the pavilion underscores the project's added value and advanced stage at that time on a regional level, through visits from leaders from various countries and officials.
Amidst the gathering of major dairy companies and the food industry sector at the "Dairy and Food Festival" in Al-Kharj, covering over 100,000 square meters, the significant contribution of the "King Abdulaziz Agricultural Project" in supporting the agricultural sector and livestock is evident, with an outlook aiming to utilize modern sciences and methods, including a gene bank to preserve quality cattle breeds and serve similar projects in the Kingdom.
