Plans to boost agriculture in Oman to be submitted to Council

Dr Ahmed bin Nasser bin Abdullah Al Bakri, undersecretary of the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, at one of the stalls at the expo.– Pictures and videos by Jun Estrada

Muscat: New strategies for the progress of the agriculture sector will be submitted to the Supreme Council for Planning by the end of this year or in the beginning of the next year, a top official at the ministry of agriculture and fisheries said.

"The strategy to boost the fisheries sector has already been approved by the council. We have also got the budget. Now, we have prepared one for the agriculture sector as part of the Oman Vision 2040. It will soon be submitted and we hope to get it approved along with funds," Dr Ahmed bin Nasser bin Abdullah Al Bakri, undersecretary of the ministry of agriculture and fisheries, said on the sidelines of the Food and Hospitality Oman exhibition.According to organisers, the exhibition is an opportunity for Omani businessmen to set up TRADE partnerships with participating companies and to get import licenses of technical machinery and equipment in the food and hospitality sector, as well as striking trade deals that increase the volume of trade exchanges between the Sultanate and the participating states.

Oman Food and Hospitality was launched in 2005 and has succeeded in attracting a large number of leading international companies in the areas of food, beverages and restaurants along with kitchens, food technologies, HOTEL and services equipment and packing systems.

Meanwhile, while answering a query on the biggest challenge faced by the Oman agriculture sector, the official said that the shortage of water is the biggest challenge and the ministry is cooperating with other ministries, and regional and global governments to find a solution.

"We have already implemented many projects to overcome the water shortage hurdle. In addition, we are always keen to study new techniques and adopt them. We share and gain knowledge and techniques from regional and global countries," the undersecretary added.

A report released by the ministry in mid-2013, said that fish and agricultural production in 2012 increased to OMR 462 million in comparison with OMR362.2 million recorded in 2009, as the annual growth average recorded between 2009 and 2013 was 8.5 per cent and the value of the agricultural production has steadily increased.

Fish production increased from OMR110,700 in 2009 to 142,000 in 2012, which marks a promising growth in the value of production of key sectors.

The study indicated that the agricultural sector is the cornerstone of agricultural development and its contribution is significant in increasing the GDP and employment, as the sector has seen a significant increase in the rate of self-sufficiency in agricultural products.

The ministry has adopted different plans that include agricultural and fishing policies and programmes that are aimed at sustainable development and conservation of natural resources.