First aquaponics project to kick off on March 14

Built on an area of 6,000-7,000 square metres with an initial capital of RO 1 million, the project will grow fish alongside vegetables in a ‘closed loop system’

Oman’s first aquaponics farm, said to be the third largest in the region, is set to be launched in Barka on March 14, according to sources at the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries.

Dr Fuad bin Jaafar al Sajwani, Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, will dedicate the project in the presence of various ministerial delegations and representatives of other authorities.

The project will comprise conventional aquaculture, which is raising aquatic animals such as snails, fish, crayfish or prawns in tanks, along with hydroponics — a method of growing plants without soil.

Al Arfan Aquaponics Agritech, located in Rumais, is a result of a pilot project developed by Muscat Horizons International.

It is supervised by Water Farmers Aquaponics, the organic farming specialists from Canada.

“The project, the training for which will be imparted to local farmers in the days to come, is a mix of organic farming with aquaponics,” said Ali bin Saif al Siyabi, deputy head of the project.

Built on an area of 6,000-7,000 square metres with an initial capital of RO 1 million, the project will grow fish alongside vegetables in a “closed-loop system” with fish and crops side by side.

The fish grown in the farm are fed non-gmo feed. Their excreta will act as fertiliser for the crops.

Additional nutrients will be provided to the plants through composting and seaweed extracts.

“The most important highlight is the water conservation. It will let us grow food year round,” he said.

In terms of land conservation, Ali says aquaponics can help grow six times more per square feet compared with traditional farming. Hence, resources are saved. “Since the fertiliser is from fish and not salmonellas or e.coli, crops will be healthy to eat and full of nutritional value.”

The project, which took more than a year to set up and get started, will most likely be replicated in other parts of the country aiming at self-reliance in farming, said the sources.