EL KHATIB, Abdel Basset.

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Seven Green Spikes. First edition, first printing, by El Khatib, senior advisor to Sheikh Hassan Mishari, the Minister of Agriculture and Water. In this extensive work, he discusses rural living standards, Bedouin welfare, desalination projects, and the Saudi Arabian goal of agricultural self-sufficiency by 1990. While not uncommon in institutions, it is scarce in commerce. El Khatib identifies large areas for cultivation while examining the upscaling of freshwater discoveries and desalination efforts. He argues for a national plan to improve cultivated land, increase productivity, develop more land, and protect and improve grazing areas. The south-west, such as Najran, Tihama, Qasim, and Wadi Dawasir, has potential for Mediterranean and equatorial crops and livestock, and Harad in the Eastern Province for sheep. The book opens with a memorial to the late King Faisal. It is divided into three parts, with the first describing the geography and achievements of the Ministry. Part two presents findings from surveys by international firms in the Nafud, South-West, Eastern Region, Riyadh, and Red Sea coasts. He notes that surveys are considered for the Empty Quarter and Arabian Shield. Part three looks at undergoing projects at Al Hasa, Wadi Jizan, Harad, Qatif, Riyadh, and Jeddah. The numerous illustrations and maps portray rural areas and government projects.Provenance: ownership signature in ink of R. A. Downing on front wrapper. Downing (1928-2013) "was head and shoulders above

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