KUWAIT CITY, Nov. 5 (Xinhua) — More than an hour’s drive south from Kuwait City, the urban skyline yields to vast stretches of desert in the Al Wafrah area in Ahmadi Governorate.
In this sun-scorched landscape, where vegetation is sparse and green is a rare sight, farmer Sari Al-Azmi has done the extraordinary: he has created a thriving agricultural haven, powered by Chinese technology and equipment.
“In August this year, the bananas I grew were sold on the local market for the first time — this is also Kuwait’s first-ever batch of locally-grown bananas,” Al-Azmi told Xinhua, his voice brimming with pride. His breakthrough has been celebrated in local media as a “milestone” in Kuwaiti agriculture.
Al-Azmi warmly guided a group of Chinese visitors through his greenhouses, where a cool breeze greeted them even before they stepped inside. Rows of lush plants and fruit trees stood in sharp contrast to the barren land outside. Tapped the steel frame and plastic roofing, Al-Azmi proudly operated an electric control switch for the automated water-cooling system, repeating the Arabic word “alsini,” meaning “China,” with a smile. “All of this equipment comes from China,” he noted.
From tape and sickles to electric tricycles and tractors, much of what keeps the farm running was imported from China.
A lifelong farmer who learned the craft from his father, Al-Azmi had long dreamed of transforming desert into fertile ground. For years, the harsh climate made that impossible.
But as Kuwait-China cooperation has ever deepened under the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative, Chinese technology began offering new solutions.
“In 2016, we began developing modern facility agriculture. To explore technologies and equipment, we visited several countries,” Al-Azmi recalled. It was at the Canton Fair in Guangzhou where he discovered the automated greenhouse system that would change his farm forever.
“China left us with a deep impression. In Guangzhou, we learned about the latest agricultural technologies and brought many of them back to Kuwait,” he said.
Today, Al-Azmi’s farm spans 85,000 square meters and includes over 200 greenhouses equipped with Chinese cooling systems. Even when outside temperatures near 50 degrees Celsius, fans and water circulation keep the greenhouses below 30 degrees Celsius, overcoming one of the biggest challenges of desert farming.
According to the Kuwaiti Farmers’ Union, there are about 7,500 large-scale farms in the country, most located in Al Wafrah and Al Abdali. The majority use Chinese-made equipment and materials, from heavy machinery and greenhouse fans to drip irrigation systems and fertilizers.
Driven by a mix of passion and pragmatism, Al-Azmi keeps a close watch on market prices. “Most fruits and vegetables in Kuwait rely on imports, and bananas here are usually quite expensive,” he said. “So I thought, now that we have these greenhouses, why not grow them ourselves?”
He started with eight banana trees. All survived, flourished, and produced saplings. Today, his farm boasts more than 20,000 banana trees.
“Our farming is not just for profit — it’s to serve the country we love,” Al-Azmi said. “Imported bananas sell for about 0.6 Kuwaiti dinars (about 2 U.S. dollars) per kilogram, while our locally grown ones sell for 0.3 dinars. We’ve successfully halved the price. What makes our bananas unique is their freshness — they go straight from the farm to the consumer.”
His farm now grows more than 30 kinds of fruits and vegetables, including oranges and dragon fruit. It has become a local landmark, attracting residents and even members of the Kuwaiti royal family. Al-Azmi has twice been received and commended by the country’s head of state.
As the sun set over the golden dunes, Al-Azmi was still eager to show the Chinese visitors more. Before they left, he lit a traditional Arab incense burner, a gesture of blessing and lasting friendship, and offered it to his guests.