Oman: Pacts worth $83.9mln to boost food security

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Muscat – The Ministry of Housing and Urban Planning (MHUP) signed six usufruct contracts worth RO32mn to establish agricultural projects in four governorates on Thursday. The projects cover an area of more than 3mn sqm.

The contracts seek to implement the ministry’s initiatives to support the agricultural sector and consolidate its partnership and integration with the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Water Resources, with the primary objective of consolidating food security in line with Oman Vision 2040.

The agreements were signed by H E Dr Khalfan Said al Shuaili, Minister of Housing and Urban Planning, in the presence of H E Dr Saud Hamoud al Habsi, Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Water Resources.

The contracts, which provide land under the usufruct system, will help support the economy and investments, MHUP stated. ‘These will augment the sustainability of land use through implementation of modern, innovative projects to be carried out in line with the National Strategy for Development of Governorates.’

Of the projects signed, one will provide for the establishment of a honey production facility in Barka, South Batinah, spread over 12,000sqm worth RO1,250,000.

Another contract, worth RO180,000, will help consolidate soil richness in Barka on an area of more than 40,000sqm.

An agreement worth RO3mn will see plantation of 50,000 date trees of Fard, Majdol and Khalas varieties on 2mn sqm in the wilayat of Al Sunaina, Buraimi.

In Dakhliyah, an organic farming project will be set up for pomegranate production in Jabal Akhdar spread over 121,000sqm at a cost of RO294,000, while a banana plantation in Suwaiq, North Batinah, spread over 267,000sqm will be implemented at a cost of RO446,000.

The sixth usufruct contract – worth RO150,000 – is for cultivation and production of figs on an area of 64,000sqm in Sohar.

H E Dr Habsi stated that while 100 per cent self-sufficiency has been achieved in the production of crops like dates, his ministry seeks to achieve self-sufficiency in other food products too. “In the next stage, emphasis will be laid on agricultural industrialisation.”