Kuwait's harsh climate, lack of water and poor soil have meant that farming has never played an important part in the country's economy. Before the discovery and export of oil, several occupations contributed to the national economy, albeit at the subsistence level - nomadic tribespeople wondered the desert, moving their livestock from place to place in search of grazing ground; in the sea, fish were caught and pearls dived for and then traded for other goods.  Once the government began receiveing oil revenues, agriculture was reduced still further. However, the Kuwaiti government has always recognised the importance of farming - to the people and to the economy. As early as 1935, even before oil was exploited, a department for agriculture had been set up. In 1968, it was renamed  and became the Department of Agriculture until it was later expanded to include fishing and is currently called The Department for Agriculture and Fisheries.   

Although agriculture in Kuwait only contributes 1% to the national economy, this looks set to change in the near future. Under the department, farmers are offered easy loans and are given access to advice and assistance that helps expand the quality and quantity of their produce. Because of Kuwait's climate, emphasis is placed on growing fruit and vegetables in state-of-the-art greenhouses and poly-tunnels that are temperature adjusted.

Kuwait has two main areas of agricultural production with over a thousand farms - some big, some small. Abdali, in the northeast near the border with Iraq and Wafra, down south towards the border with Saudi Arabia. With the gradual regeneration of Failaka, more farms are appearing on the island. Although Kuwait's agricultural sector might not be massive, it still provides plenty of  fruit and vegetables for sale in the country's many supermarkets and souks. Buying local produce is best - not only is it fresh, it's also more environmentally friendly (think of all the carbon emissions just for 6 blackberries from Chile!),  it encourages Kuwaiti farmers to continue their efforts towards increasing Kuwait's self-sufficiency and it helps promote economic diversity.