As agriculture and fisheries form the central part of the Sultanate’s economy and society, targeted investments are expected to enhance food security in the country further.
Oman Vision 2040 has given special priority to ensuring sustainable production and consumption patterns through the sustainable use and investment of natural resources and wealth to ensure high added value.
Support for innovative state-backed dairy, red meat and poultry projects continue to boost production and provide investment opportunities in niche segments such as organic farming.
The investments made by the government and the private sector in food security over the past period realised good proportions of success.
The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Water Resources is learnt to have chalking out models for ‘farm tourism’ and ‘contractual farming’.
“To be established for the first time in the Sultanate, these models will open up visas for marking agricultural products of farmers and provide hospitality and entertainment services for tourists”, said an official who was associated with the recent Food Security Laboratory.
According to Dr Saud bin Hamoud al Habsi, Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Water Resources, there is a 150 per cent production rise in the fisheries sector where more than 50 firms operate and export their products to different countries of the world. Significantly, the
Sultanate of Oman achieved almost 100 per cent self-sufficiency in dates production, while sufficiency in other products ranged between 50 per cent and 60 per cent.
The Lab, organised by the ministry, in cooperation with the Oman Vision 2040 Implementation Follow-up Unit, took initiatives and agreements that would augment investments and provide a suitable environment for food security.
According to the ministry, the lab identified 128 projects worth RO 1.3 billion investments set to be carried out in the next five years. These investments are expected to realise food sufficiency and food security in the Sultanate.
The projects include 37 in the agriculture sector, 29 in the livestock, 28 in the fisheries sector, 8 in the water resources sector, along with 26 other initiatives.
The lab also shaped an integrated set of investment opportunities in the food security sectors, targeting the segments of job-seekers and entrepreneurs.
In recent time, the ministry signed some agreements and contracts with a group of companies, including a project for coconut tree cultivation in Dhofar Governorate, banana commercial cultivation project in the Wilayat of Al Musannah, a contract for pomegranate and olive farms leasing and an agreement for the development of Wadi Dhayqah Dam.
At the beginning of this month, the ministry signed an agreement with Oman Flour Mills Company, which will enable the company to buy wheat from Omani farmers as part of its efforts to enhance food security.
Wheat crop production grew by 19 per cent in the Sultanate of Oman during the agricultural season 2020/2021 to reach 2,649 tonnes compared to the 2019/2020 season. The total area of land planted with wheat in the 2020/2021 season amounted to 2,449 acres, constituting a 19.6 per cent rise compared to the last season. The number of farmers has also increased by 5.5 per cent.
