In the highlands of Al-Baha, the Shada mountains enchant with the captivating aroma of coffee wafting through the air. Nestled on Shada Al-Asfal and Shada Al-Ala, coffee shrubs yield a distinct bean that has become a highly sought-after commodity in the country.
These mountains host farms boasting over 54,000 trees, collectively producing more than 12 tons of coffee annually. In this thriving enterprise, over 280 farmers contribute to the cultivation, according to statistics from the Ministry of Environment, Water, and Agriculture branch in Baha.
As part of a mountain range surrounded by low plains and valleys, the twin peaks of Shada Al-Ala and Shada Al-Asfal stand as the highest in the Tihama plain. Reaching elevations of 2,200 meters and 1,500 meters, respectively, these mountains serve as the backdrop for the cultivation of various crops, with coffee reigning as the primary one.
The care for the coffee trees is remarkable, employing innovative methods such as collecting rainwater in hollow rocks strung together to resemble tanks, as highlighted by Ali Al-Ghamdi, the owner of a farm on Shada Al-Asfal mountain, where 700 Shada coffee trees thrive under meticulous care.
Shada coffee, priced between SR100 ($26) and SR150 per kilogram, bridges tradition and modernity, with trees that have stood for over 150 years still yielding coffee. Abdullah Al-Shadawi tends to around 300 of these ancient trees, following in the farming footsteps of his ancestors, emphasizing the significant yield due to the fertile soil.
Fahad Al-Zahrani, director of the ministry’s Baha region, underscores the government’s substantial support for farmers, distributing 80 liters of insecticides annually and implementing a reclamation project for agricultural terraces on both mountains. With 125 agricultural terrace reservoirs established, the ministry’s Coffee City project in the north of Baha covers 1.6 million square meters, aiming to create 1,000 jobs and ensure the cultivation of 300,000 coffee trees. The Shada Mountains stand not just as a geographic marvel but as a testament to a timeless coffee legacy.
