About Al Mallouhi Agriculture
In Unaiza, located in the Saudi province of Al-Quassim, vegetables of a very high quality are being cultivated. The greenhouse of Saleh Al Mallouhi in Unaiza, now more then 5o acres in size, is one of the largest glass greenhouses in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Together with his brother Sulaiman al Mallouhi, he owns most of the horticultural land in his region Al Qassim in the heart of Saudi Arabië.
It is the leading example in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia of how healthy food can be cultivated in a sustainable way.
Challenge
The extreme climate, hot temperatures especially, makes growing conditions significantly more difficult in Saudi Arabia than almost any other place in the world. In addition to this, water is becoming saltier and scarcer. The majority of growers use plastic tunnel greenhouses. However, the production per m2 in such greenhouses can be as little as one third of Venlo-type greenhouses. Using plastic tunnel greenhouses only enables cultivation in the winter period. Therefore, a glass greenhouse is a better choice and allows the climate to be controlled with water and energy use managed throughout the year.
In order to do so, a computer controlled climate is needed that can work in any type of greenhouse, regardless of the location. At the same time, the climate computer needs to be easy to use and able to deal with harsh climatic patterns. Al Mallouhi was already using an automation system but it was not fulfilling their needs. This led to Hoogendoorn providing the Al Mallouhi greenhouses with better automation solutions indeed. Currently, the horticultural firm is using four Hoogendoorn iSii process computers since the year of 2011. These process computers control the climate, cooling, water management and energy management. They replaced computers of a competing brand. The grower is fully satisfied with this change. Al Mallouhi describes the following about this: “The relationship with Hoogendoorn is based on great trust. That’s why for every new project and expansion in the last years, I knock on their door for a new system”.
According to Al Mallouhi, the iSii is easy to use and delivers perfect control with the PAD & FAN program. This program improved the quality of his crops and resulted in higher production levels. “Our production has risen thanks to the use of the iSii computer. This is due to the extremely precise PAD & FAN computer program”, said Mr. Saleh Al Mallouhi. Furthermore, he has the ability to remotely receive data and maintain control of his process computers’ functions.
Local for local production in a world gripped by Coronavirus
This strategy of growing in a glass greenhouse with an optimal climate control with Hoogendoorn, has made Al Mallouhi one of the most successful growers in the entire Middle East.
The local presence of these greenhouses has also proven to be very valuable at this time when the Coronavirus is gripping the world. In this way they can continue to supply the Saudi Arabian market with fresh and locally grown vegetables. By selling to local supermarket chains in the country, they are less dependent on imports from other countries. A side effect that is only too nice.