The Minister of Agriculture Dr. Fahd bin Abdulrahman Balghunym has stressed the Ministry's keenness on supporting the local production of sheep by improving the production from traditional to economic environment in accordance with veterinary and health conditions. In an opening speech at 2nd Sheep Production Symposium organized here today by the Ministry of Agriculture in cooperation with Riyadh Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Dr Balghunym estimated the total number of sheep in the Kingdom to about 17 million heads of sheep, pointing out that 3.8% of them are bred in specialized projects while more than 16 million of heads of sheep belong to a traditional farm sector and desert, noting that the Kingdom imports about 5 million heads annually. He indicated that the Ministry has submitted to the Cabinet an integrated strategy for the development of sectors of camels and sheep, prepared by specialists from the Ministry, researchers from the University of King Saud and King Faisal and the private sector.
