Tomato -- the most wasted vegetable in Saudi Arabia
Potatoes rank 2nd followed by zucchini and carrots, with annual waste of 67,000 tonnes
Cairo: Tomatoes top the list of the most wasted vegetables in Saudi Arabia with 97,000 tonnes annually, the Saudi news agency SPA has reported, citing figures from a government food body.
Potatoes follow second with 67,000 tonnes squandered yearly, the agency added, based on data from the General Food Security Authority (GFSA).
Coming third are zucchini with 14,000 tonnes followed by carrots with 12,000, it added.
Last week, GFSA launched a campaign to reduce food waste during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan when food consumption usually increases.
The drive, titled “With Frugality, It lasts”, aims at raising awareness about importance of limiting food waste and aspects of extravagance during Ramadan.
GFSA cited findings of a study showing that food waste reaches around 33 per cent with an estimated value of at about SR40 billion per year in Saudi Arabia.
According to GFSA figures, bread and poultry waste accounts for 25 per cent and 16 per cent respectively of their overall consumption.
The month of Ramadan is marked by family gatherings and indulgent meals after a day-long fast.
Saudi Arabia, a country of around 34.8 million people, has recently launched a raft of plans to diversify its oil-reliant economy and achieve food sufficiency.
Earlier this year, the kingdom unveiled a plan to set up a zone for animal proteins in the coastal city of Jizan.
Saudi Arabia aims to localise around 85 per cent of its food industries by 2030. The country has achieved self-sufficiency of 50- 60 per cent of its red meat and fish needs, according to official figures.