Farm owners whose land lies outside the planned expansion of the electricity grid should start assessing alternatives to diesel generators, with solar power first among them, the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture said, citing lower production costs, better efficiency and less dependence on liquid fuel.

The call came during a panel discussion on practical solutions to cut costs and support sustainability in agriculture, featuring the ministry's director general of agricultural licensing and registration, Abdulrahman bin Omar Al-Anqari. The session was part of the 43rd Saudi Agriculture exhibition, held from October 19 to 22 at the Riyadh International Convention and Exhibition Center under the theme "An integrated agricultural system for a sustainable future".

Speakers shared practical examples of using solar energy to run irrigation, greenhouses and cooling, and discussed technical suitability, financial returns and implementation challenges at sites not connected to the grid, helping farms define what their project studies require before going ahead.

The ministry stressed the need to work with consultants and contractors qualified by the Saudi Electricity Regulatory Authority to assess the feasibility of available options and choose the best solution for each farm.

The session is part of the ministry's wider push to improve energy efficiency in agricultural facilities, encourage investment in renewable energy and provide the technical know-how needed to apply it.