Agriculture is estimated to account for just under half a percent of gross domestic product (GDP) in Kuwait. The extreme desert climate and lack of water and arable land (not even one percent is cultivated) make it difficult to develop the agricultural sector, although various attempts are made.
CountryAAH: Comprehensive import regulations of Kuwait. Covers import prohibitions and special documentation requirements for a list of prohibited items.
The most important crops are potatoes, tomatoes, onions, melons, cucumbers and dates. Almost all agriculture is conducted privately and is located in the southern part of the country. Livestock management is also limited due to the drought. With the exception of fish and shrimp, Kuwait has to import almost all food.
The dates have a given place both as staple goods and on the banquet tables during the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan. Since the UN organization Unesco 2019, on the proposal of Arab countries, the dates classified as a world heritage site are encouraged new cultivation. In Kuwait, some research is being carried out, among other things in order to persuade growers to avoid monocultures. Leprechauns occur in a variety of popular varieties, which means that they are both exported and imported regardless of whether a country has large native crops. For Kuwait defense and foreign policy, please check recipesinthebox.
Fishing has old traditions and the fishing fleet is well developed. However, the fishing industry was severely affected by the environmental degradation that followed Iraq’s occupation in 1990.
FACTS – AGRICULTURE
Agriculture’s share of GDP
0.5 percent (2018)
Percentage of land used for agriculture
8.4 percent (2016)
Abbreviationfinder.org: Offers how the 3-letter acronym of KWT stands for the state of Kuwait in geography.
2020
June
Sharp criticism of corona apps
June 16
Amnesty International criticizes some countries that use infection tracking apps and emphasizes that their apps are based on technology that compromises personal privacy. Bahrain, Kuwait and Norway make use of apps that Amnesty describes as particularly dangerous. In Kuwait, authorities respond that the app is used exclusively to counteract the pandemic and that the tracking is aimed at finding people who break 28 days of mandatory self-quarantine.
Government’s goal: reducing migrants
June 3
Kuwait should step in to reduce the inclusion of migrants in the population. Facing media people, the country’s prime minister says the “demographic imbalance” needs to be resolved. He puts Kuwait’s total population at 4.8 million, of which 3.3 million are citizens of other countries. Instead of 70 percent of migrants and 30 percent of Kuwaiti, the government would like to see the proportion of foreign nationals decrease to 30 percent. From a parliamentary stand, proposals have been made for a quota system, but also that all government employees of foreign nationals should be replaced by Kuwaiti. Critics point out that there are many jobs that Kuwaitis are reluctant to do. Only those employed in households belonging to Asian countries are believed to be at least 650,000 (see also January 17).
May
Robot purchase from the USA
May 28
The United States provides Kuwait signs for the purchase of Patriot robots and other military equipment from US military equipment companies. It is about 84 robots of the latest model. In addition, the deal, worth a total of $ 1.425 billion, includes equipment to update the Kuwaiti robotic defense.
Egypt fetches beaches stranded
May 4th
Egyptian guest workers demonstrate and demand the opportunity to travel home. As a result of the covid 19 pandemic, they are trapped in Kuwait and do not have permission to stay in the country. Kuwaiti authorities intervene to disperse the public and a number of people are arrested. Egypt is preparing home travel opportunities for 5,300 people.
April
Oil countries are reducing production
April 12
Opec member countries and several non-member oil producing states (Russia, Mexico and Kazakhstan) agree to reduce their production by a total of 9.7 million barrels per day to raise crude oil prices. Kuwait, for its part, pulls down just over a million barrels a day. The total reduction corresponds to almost a tenth of world production, but it is still uncertain if the producer countries succeed in their ambitions to get more paid for the oil. The severe restrictions imposed by the world’s countries to counter the corona pandemic have caused global demand to collapse, for example on aviation fuel.
Luxury quarantine riot in Kuwait
April 8
Kuwait, where single coronary deaths have been confirmed, according to AFP news agency, is the state of the Persian Gulf that has taken the most stringent measures to curb coronary infection. More than 100 people have been charged with breaking the nightly curfew or quarantine instructions, which can result in up to six months in prison. Ten years threatens if someone is considered to spread the virus intentionally. Two densely populated areas inhabited by guest workers have been blocked off, while Kuwaitis who have returned from abroad have been quarantined at luxury hotels arranged for 60,000 guests. Among the 30 percent of the population who are citizens and rich in oil, there are those who also see luxury quarantine as a punishment. Complaints about cleaning and food occur, via social media.
March
Tighter rules should stop infection
11th of March
Kuwait warns that traffic jams will be halted, crowds are banned and state employees are on leave for two weeks in an effort to limit the spread of the covid-19 viral disease. 72 cases of illness have been confirmed. Freight flights are not hindered, nor are home trips for Kuwaitis. The World Health Organization (WHO) classifies the disease on the same day as a pandemic, it is spread throughout the world.
January
Long penalties for stateless people
January 28
Three protesters are sentenced to long prison terms, between ten years and life, for claiming rights for stateless people. According to human rights organizations, the three were among 15 men arrested in connection with a protest wave that began in July (see August 22, 2019). The crime classifications are about unauthorized demonstrations and violations of state security. One of the three is convicted in his absence. The other arrested are released conditionally, some with demands to pay bail. In Kuwait, about 100,000 stateless Arabs live.
Filipino guest work is stopped
January 17
The Government of the Philippines is stopping its citizens from working in Kuwait. The reason for a ban being re-introduced is a case where an employer is accused of sexually assassinating an employed Filipino. In 2018, when the remains of another Filipino woman were found in the freezer of her boss, the Philippines stopped the states for a while. The crisis in 2018 was resolved with an agreement between the two countries, which would give the guest workers greater legal certainty. The new ban applies to new employment contracts for all professions. Filipino citizens who are already in Kuwait may fulfill their contracts.
Sixth year of budget deficit
January 14
The government approves a state budget for 2020/2021, with a large deficit for the sixth consecutive year. The deficit is due to low oil prices, emphasizes Finance Minister Maryam al-Aqil. The oil accounts for 87 percent of the state’s revenue. Since the oil price collapse in 2014, Kuwait has raised electricity and fuel prices, but opposition in Parliament has slowed down taxation. Parliament has also opposed legislation that allows the state to borrow, which is why she says the deficit will be covered by the state’s reserves.
Long term agreement with Qatar
January 5
Kuwait, which is rich in oil but not on natural gas, concludes a 15-year agreement with Qatar on gas imports. The agreement between the two countries’ state energy companies will take effect in 2022, when a new gas terminal in southern Kuwait is put into operation.
US reinforces in Kuwait
January 4th
US Defense Headquarters Pentagon announces that another 3,500 US troops will be stationed in Kuwait. The decision is announced in the wake of a US drone attack in Iraq on January 3, when both an Iranian general and an Iraqi militia leader are among the victims. The US presence in Iraq is disputed, not least in light of the steadily deteriorating relations between the United States and neighboring Iran. In 2019, the war risk led to the US placing 14,000 men in Kuwait.
