Saudi raises barley subsides cent to discourage wheat

Riyadh: Saudi Arabia, the world's biggest importer of barley, raised subsidies on the grain 71 per cent to wean farmers off wheat flour, which they turned to after lower-than-average winter rains hurt pastures.

The government raised the subsidy to 1,200 riyals per tonne from 700 riyals per tonne, an agriculture ministry officials said on Wednesday.

Saudi Arabia imports around 6 million tonnes per year of barley, out of global trade of 15 million tonnes, according to the International Grains Council.