the kingdom's most dramatic agricultural accomplishment, noted worldwide, was its rapid transformation from importer to exporter of wheat. in 1978, the country built its first grain silos. by 1984, it had become self-sufficient in wheat. shortly thereafter, saudi arabia began exporting wheat to some 30 countries, including china and the former soviet union, and in the major producing areas of tabuk, hail and qasim, average yields reached 3.6 tons per acre.