Central market gears up for holidays

MUSCAT: The administration of the Mawaleh Central Fruits and Vegetables Market has intensified its preparations for the Eid al Fitr holidays by taking a number of measures to provide products at fair prices. The market has received has received 1,247 shipments weighing 24,940 tonnes of fruits and vegetables from May 27 to June 17 to meet the demand. In addition, the market administration has urged the traders to increase direct import during the period.

The administration has also intensified its preparations to receive increasing number of buyers before Eid al Fitr. It has taken a number of measure to ensure smooth activities including regulating the movement inside the market, exploiting the open areas outside the market, increasing customs inspection hours, carrying out continuous cleaning operations, intensifying inspections and price control and monitoring in cooperation with the concerned authorities.

The administration also increased inspection and food monitoring operations at the shops and stores. During the period from May 27 to June 17, the inspection teams of the central market destroyed 169 tonnes of bad fruits and vegetables. A number of government authorities operating at the central market such as the Directorate-General of Customs at Royal Oman Police, the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries represented by the quarantine department at the Al Mawaleh Market, have doubled their efforts to handle the increasing number of consignments arriving at the market. In order to achieve that goal, the market administration has introduced an evening shift for customs inspection (from 9 pm to 1 am).