Vegetation

The typical vegetation of Kuwait is that of desert with patches of shrub and spring grass. Due to the extremely low annual rainfall and the lack of surface water, plants and animals are adapted to the arid conditions. Spring grasses and flowers grow after the winter rains. True soils scarcely exist naturally in Kuwait except in the new green belt of Kuwait city and in a few desert oasis such as Al-Jahrah, where cultivation and irrigation are carried out, the vegetation consists of shrub and low bushes (and ephemeral grass in the spring). Halophytes (salt-loving plants) grow on the marshy stretches along the coast.

Only one percent of the land is cultivated, and that only with intensive irrigation. Currently, a great deal of effort is being made towards making Kuwait greener and shrubs and trees are being planted. The Government has sponsored experimental farms where plants are cultivated on a gravel bed and are nurtured with special fertilizers and water. Tomatoes, radishes, melons and cucumbers are the main crops of Kuwait. There are successful dairy and poultry farms. More importantly, the entire demand for fresh fish is met locally.