Herder’s Call Keeps Herding Heritage Alive in Jazan

Jazan Region is home to 7,876,221 head of livestock tended by 23,405 herders, according to the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture’s branch in the region, which reports that the traditional herder’s call, known locally as tarwi’at al-ra’i, remains a living practice across the area’s valleys, mountain slopes, and plains. The call is used to guide flocks toward pasture and to bring them home, and it carries generations of accumulated knowledge about the land, its seasons, and its terrain. Far from being a relic of the past, this oral tradition continues to shape daily life for thousands of families whose livelihoods depend on livestock, and it stands as a clear example of how Saudi Arabia’s rural heritage and modern agricultural policy can reinforce one another. The figures released through official Saudi channels underscore the scale of the sector: sheep account for the largest share at 4,067,961, followed by goats at 3,598,621, cattle at 130,161, and camels at 79,478.

Herding in Jazan is not simply a matter of providing food and water. It requires detailed knowledge of grazing grounds and seasonal routes, an understanding of animal behavior, and the physical ability to accompany livestock across rugged terrain. This expertise has been passed down through generations and helps sustain livestock farming as both a source of livelihood and a pillar of rural economic stability and food security. The herder’s call is one expression of that inherited knowledge, a practical tool and a cultural marker at the same time. For an international audience, the story offers a window into how Saudi Arabia balances the preservation of deep-rooted traditions with the demands of a modernizing economy under Vision 2030.

Context and Background

How does a sound carry centuries of knowledge across a landscape? In Jazan, the answer lies in tarwi’at al-ra’i, the herder’s call that echoes through the ravines of Balghazi in Al-Aidabi Governorate. The call is not a single note but a system of communication: different calls serve different situations, some guiding flocks toward pasture and others bringing them home. Animals respond to each call, demonstrating a bond between herder and livestock that has been refined over generations. This oral tradition is preserved in the region’s collective memory and remains a working part of livestock management rather than a performance for visitors.

The Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture’s branch in the region has documented the scale of this activity, reporting 7,876,221 head of livestock and 23,405 herders. Those numbers reflect a sector that is both economically significant and culturally rooted. Sheep dominate the count at 4,067,961, while goats number 3,598,621, cattle 130,161, and camels 79,478. Each species brings different grazing needs, different market chains, and different rhythms to the herder’s year. The diversity of livestock also reflects the varied geography of Jazan, from coastal plains to mountain terraces, where herders move with the seasons and read the land for signs of rainfall and pasture.

Mohammed Al-Ghazwani, a resident of Al-Aidabi Governorate who is passionate about folk heritage, keeps the tradition alive. His calls echo with a rhythm familiar to herders and preserved in the region’s collective memory. Al-Ghazwani said the call gives herding a cultural dimension rooted in local knowledge and traditional ways of life. He added that its sound has become inseparable from the pastures, reflecting the bond between people, their livestock, and the land. His testimony, carried by the Saudi Press Agency, illustrates how individual practitioners sustain a heritage that is shared across the region.

Key Details

What makes the herder’s call more than a simple shout? According to the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture’s branch in Jazan, herding involves knowledge of grazing grounds and routes, an understanding of animal behavior, and the ability to accompany livestock across rugged terrain. The call encodes much of this knowledge in sound. A call for pasture is different from a call for home, and animals learn to distinguish between them. This two-way communication reduces stress on the flock, helps prevent animals from straying, and allows a single herder to manage a group across difficult ground. It is a practical technology as much as a cultural expression.

The livestock figures reported by the ministry branch give a sense of the scale at which these skills are applied. With more than 7.8 million head of livestock and more than 23,000 herders, Jazan’s grazing economy touches thousands of households. Sheep and goats together account for the overwhelming majority of animals, which aligns with the region’s terrain and market preferences. Cattle and camels, though smaller in number, add diversity to rural livelihoods and to the local food system. The presence of camels also connects Jazan to the broader cultural heritage of the Arabian Peninsula, where camels have long been central to desert life and identity.

Al-Ghazwani’s practice shows how the tradition is maintained in daily life rather than in a museum. He uses the calls as part of his work, and his familiarity with them reflects a lifetime of observation. The rhythm he produces is familiar to other herders, which suggests that the call is not idiosyncratic but part of a shared regional vocabulary. That shared quality is important: it means the tradition can be taught, learned, and adapted as herds move and seasons change. It also means the call can survive even as the wider economy changes around it.

International and Regional Impact

Why should readers outside Saudi Arabia pay attention to a herder’s call in Jazan? Because livestock heritage is part of the global conversation about food security, rural livelihoods, and cultural preservation. Saudi Arabia’s approach, which documents and supports traditional practices while modernizing the agricultural sector, offers a model for countries facing similar tensions between development and heritage. The ministry’s reporting on livestock numbers and herding practices contributes to a transparent picture of rural activity, which in turn supports planning, investment, and international cooperation in agriculture and food systems.

At the regional level, Jazan’s livestock sector is connected to markets across the Kingdom and beyond. Herders supply animals that move through local and national supply chains, contributing to food availability and rural incomes. The herder’s call, meanwhile, is part of the cultural fabric that makes Jazan distinctive within Saudi Arabia and the wider Arabian Peninsula. Recognizing and preserving such traditions supports social cohesion and helps communities maintain a sense of identity as they engage with modern economic opportunities. For international audiences, the story is a reminder that heritage and development are not opposites; they can be mutually reinforcing.

Economic and Strategic Significance

How does a tradition rooted in the pastures connect to a national economic transformation? Livestock farming in Jazan is a source of livelihood and a contributor to rural economic stability. The Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture supports the sector through its regional branch, which tracks animal populations and herding activity. That data helps inform policies on veterinary care, water access, grazing management, and market support. When herders can operate effectively, they sustain local economies, reduce rural migration, and help maintain the food supply chain that serves both rural and urban populations.

The herder’s call also has strategic value as a form of intangible cultural heritage. It represents knowledge that is difficult to replace once lost: understanding of microclimates, plant cycles, animal health, and terrain. By keeping the call alive, herders preserve a low-cost, low-technology system of animal management that remains relevant in a world concerned with sustainability. In this sense, the tradition aligns with broader efforts to promote responsible resource use and resilient rural communities, which are priorities within Saudi Arabia’s long-term development planning.

Vision 2030 Alignment

Where does a herder’s call fit in a vision for a diversified, modern economy? Saudi Vision 2030 emphasizes the importance of preserving national heritage while building new economic sectors and improving quality of life. The livestock sector in Jazan, supported by the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture, contributes to food security and rural development, both of which are consistent with the vision’s goals. At the same time, the herder’s call represents the cultural dimension of that development: a tradition that gives communities continuity and identity as they participate in the Kingdom’s broader transformation.

The preservation of tarwi’at al-ra’i is therefore more than a nostalgic exercise. It is part of a balanced approach in which economic progress and cultural heritage advance together. By documenting herding practices and supporting herders, official Saudi channels are helping to ensure that this knowledge remains available to future generations. For international readers, Jazan’s herders offer a compelling example of how a simple call can carry the weight of history, sustain livelihoods, and connect to a national vision that values both the past and the future.

20 Questions

Q1. What is the herder’s call known as in Jazan?

A1. It is known locally as tarwi’at al-ra’i. This traditional oral call is used by herders to guide their flocks and is preserved in the region’s collective memory.

Q2. How many head of livestock are in Jazan Region?

A2. The Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture’s branch in the region reports 7,876,221 head of livestock, tended by 23,405 herders across valleys, mountain slopes, and plains.

Q3. Which type of livestock is most numerous in Jazan?

A3. Sheep account for the largest share, at 4,067,961. Goats follow at 3,598,621, then cattle at 130,161 and camels at 79,478.

Q4. Who is Mohammed Al-Ghazwani?

A4. He is a resident of Al-Aidabi Governorate in Jazan who is passionate about folk heritage and keeps the herder’s call tradition alive through his daily practice.

Q5. Why is the herder’s call important for livestock management?

A5. Different calls guide flocks toward pasture or bring them home. Animals respond to each call, which helps herders manage livestock across rugged terrain efficiently.

Q6. What knowledge does herding require beyond food and water?

A6. Herding requires knowledge of grazing grounds and routes, an understanding of animal behavior, and the ability to accompany livestock across difficult terrain in different seasons.

Q7. How does the herder’s call reflect local culture?

A7. Al-Ghazwani says the call gives herding a cultural dimension rooted in local knowledge and traditional ways of life, and its sound has become inseparable from the pastures.

Q8. What government body reported the livestock figures?

A8. The Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture’s branch in Jazan Region reported the figures through official Saudi channels.

Q9. How does livestock farming support rural stability?

A9. It provides a source of livelihood and helps sustain rural economic stability and food security, supporting families and communities across the region.

Q10. What is the bond described between people, livestock, and land?

A10. The herder’s call reflects a deep connection in which herders, animals, and pastures are linked through daily practice and inherited knowledge.

Q11. Where in Jazan is the tradition particularly noted?

A11. The ravines of Balghazi in Al-Aidabi Governorate are specifically mentioned as a place where the herder’s call is kept alive.

Q12. Are the calls different for different situations?

A12. Yes. Some calls guide flocks toward pasture, while others bring them home. The animals learn to respond to each distinct call.

Q13. How is the tradition passed down?

A13. It is passed down through generations as part of inherited knowledge, with herders learning from those who came before them and applying it in daily work.

Q14. What role does the call play in food security?

A14. By helping herders manage livestock effectively, the call supports livestock farming, which contributes to food security and rural economic stability.

Q15. Why is the tradition considered heritage?

A15. It is an oral tradition preserved in the region’s collective memory, carrying generations of knowledge about the land, its seasons, and its terrain.

Q16. How does the tradition connect to Vision 2030?

A16. Vision 2030 values heritage preservation alongside economic development. The herder’s call supports cultural continuity, rural livelihoods, and food security goals.

Q17. What does Al-Ghazwani say about the sound of the call?

A17. He says its sound has become inseparable from the pastures, reflecting the bond between people, their livestock, and the land.

Q18. How many herders tend livestock in Jazan?

A18. The Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture’s branch reports that 23,405 herders tend livestock across the region.

Q19. What types of livestock are raised in Jazan?

A19. Sheep, goats, cattle, and camels are raised. Sheep and goats are the most numerous, while cattle and camels add diversity to rural livelihoods.

Q20. Why does the herder’s call matter for the future?

A20. It preserves practical knowledge and cultural identity, helping communities maintain their heritage while participating in Saudi Arabia’s broader economic transformation.

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