06 May 2010
SALALAH: Bananas is fast emerging as a favourite crop among farmers in Dhofar region. The government too has realised the significance of the crop, and has been making elaborate arrangements for promoting the cash crop among the farmers under the Governorate of Dhofar. In order to make modern technology available to the farmers, the government has established Fruit Research Station in Salalah. It has also developed field complex of banana genes.
This field complex includes different species and strains of bananas, which have been obtained from local farms, and from outside. The main objective of the complex is to promote research on bananas keeping in mind the local conditions. And the banana production project has been using the modern technology in collaboration with Dhofar Cattle Feed Co. and the Ministry of Agriculture.
This project will be among the pilot projects for food production, and it is the first of its kind in Dhofar Governorate.
The project aims at increasing banana production and to provide it in the local markets. This gene bank is the largest of its kind in the Sultanate.
Sumptuous food
Fruit crops are staple food for human beings. There is no doubt that the expansion in production has made it available to the customers so that they can get a balanced diet. The crop can also contribute significantly to the national economy, provided the farmers are given export and marketing facilities.
Governorate of Dhofar has many types of fruits that are unique to it and are not to be found in other Arabian peninsula countries. The most important fruits are coconuts, Al Babaia, grapes, pomegranates, bananas and other fruits.
More often, for visitors to the governorate it's a great joy to see the plants along the roadside; they often take a break for a day or two to visit the nearby farms. Apart from the banana plants, coconut trees are also famous in the region, and are also a treat to the eyes of visitors.
Salalah plains is the main agricultural area in Dhofar from where the produce comes to the local market with a lot of agricultural products, mainly bananas. Bananas are produced in commercial quantities here and there is a surplus for export too.
Second in Oman
Bananas occupy the second place among fruit crops in the Sultanate, in terms of area and production. Statistical estimates of the Ministry of Agriculture in 2002 indicate that the cultivation of banana crop is spread over an area of up to about 6,525 acres.
While the estimates of production is said to be 32,915 tonnes. There are many varieties of bananas in the Sultanate. Their names can differ from one area to another. The most important types in the Sultanate are The Midget Kaviandash, The Giant Kaviandash, Al Williamz, Red banana and others.
The most three important types in Dhofar are the giant Kaviandash, locally called Al Somali and this
type is ranked third in terms of proliferation.
The first and the second place is occupied by Al Malendi and Mysore. Mysore locally is called Al Fard. This type is in great demand because of its distinctive taste. It is characterised by its small size and its high price. The price of this type is higher than other varieties.
It is not recommended for transporting over long distance because of the relatively small size of its cortex it is exposed to damage during transport and storage.
In India banana was called as "fruit of wise men". The philosophers it is said meditated under its tree. The banana gives us an instant and substantial boost of energy. Research has proven that just two bananas provide enough energy to the body for a strenuous workout for 90 minutes. It helps us to overcome a large number of diseases, like, anaemia, blood pressure, gloom, nerves, stroke and many other diseases. There are many names for banana, such as 'banna', 'ghana', 'funana', until it was given the current name by the Africans, 'banana'. And in classical Arabic it is called, Al Talh.
SALALAH: Bananas is fast emerging as a favourite crop among farmers in Dhofar region. The government too has realised the significance of the crop, and has been making elaborate arrangements for promoting the cash crop among the farmers under the Governorate of Dhofar. In order to make modern technology available to the farmers, the government has established Fruit Research Station in Salalah. It has also developed field complex of banana genes.
This field complex includes different species and strains of bananas, which have been obtained from local farms, and from outside. The main objective of the complex is to promote research on bananas keeping in mind the local conditions. And the banana production project has been using the modern technology in collaboration with Dhofar Cattle Feed Co. and the Ministry of Agriculture.
This project will be among the pilot projects for food production, and it is the first of its kind in Dhofar Governorate.
The project aims at increasing banana production and to provide it in the local markets. This gene bank is the largest of its kind in the Sultanate.
Sumptuous food
Fruit crops are staple food for human beings. There is no doubt that the expansion in production has made it available to the customers so that they can get a balanced diet. The crop can also contribute significantly to the national economy, provided the farmers are given export and marketing facilities.
Governorate of Dhofar has many types of fruits that are unique to it and are not to be found in other Arabian peninsula countries. The most important fruits are coconuts, Al Babaia, grapes, pomegranates, bananas and other fruits.
More often, for visitors to the governorate it's a great joy to see the plants along the roadside; they often take a break for a day or two to visit the nearby farms. Apart from the banana plants, coconut trees are also famous in the region, and are also a treat to the eyes of visitors.
Salalah plains is the main agricultural area in Dhofar from where the produce comes to the local market with a lot of agricultural products, mainly bananas. Bananas are produced in commercial quantities here and there is a surplus for export too.
Second in Oman
Bananas occupy the second place among fruit crops in the Sultanate, in terms of area and production. Statistical estimates of the Ministry of Agriculture in 2002 indicate that the cultivation of banana crop is spread over an area of up to about 6,525 acres.
While the estimates of production is said to be 32,915 tonnes. There are many varieties of bananas in the Sultanate. Their names can differ from one area to another. The most important types in the Sultanate are The Midget Kaviandash, The Giant Kaviandash, Al Williamz, Red banana and others.
The most three important types in Dhofar are the giant Kaviandash, locally called Al Somali and this
type is ranked third in terms of proliferation.
The first and the second place is occupied by Al Malendi and Mysore. Mysore locally is called Al Fard. This type is in great demand because of its distinctive taste. It is characterised by its small size and its high price. The price of this type is higher than other varieties.
It is not recommended for transporting over long distance because of the relatively small size of its cortex it is exposed to damage during transport and storage.
In India banana was called as "fruit of wise men". The philosophers it is said meditated under its tree. The banana gives us an instant and substantial boost of energy. Research has proven that just two bananas provide enough energy to the body for a strenuous workout for 90 minutes. It helps us to overcome a large number of diseases, like, anaemia, blood pressure, gloom, nerves, stroke and many other diseases. There are many names for banana, such as 'banna', 'ghana', 'funana', until it was given the current name by the Africans, 'banana'. And in classical Arabic it is called, Al Talh.
By Manal Al Ajmi
© Times of Oman 2010
