Sultanate exerts efforts to achieve food security
Arable agricultural land in the Sultanate amounts to approximately 5.3 million acres or only 7 per cent of the total area, of which 2 million acres are classified as arable while the remaining is classified as marginal land characterised by low productivity, and low economic returns, the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Water Resources stated.
According to the ministry, the increase in salinity leads to a decrease in the productivity of field crops and losses due to the increased costs of extracting larger quantities of irrigation water to ensure that salts do not remain in the soil.
It indicated that the availability of water resources, besides suitable soil, is the most important factor in the agriculture sector as the agricultural sector consumes about 90 per cent of renewable water resources in the Sultanate. The National Water Resources Plan estimated that the farm sector consumes about 16 per cent more than the available renewable water resources annually.
In light of the political, economic and social developments that the world witnesses, the provision of food have become one of the chronic problems globally.
THE FARM SECTOR CONSUMES ABOUT 16 PER CENT MORE THAN THE AVAILABLE RENEWABLE WATER RESOURCES ANNUALLY
The crisis does not stop at food shortage only, but it also includes pollution, environmental and climatic changes, shrinking forest areas, desertification, lack of arable water and others.
The Sultanate was not far from the changes taking place globally, primarily as it is located in the dry areas, which prompted the government to implement investment projects for its food needs. Some years ago, it also signed an investment agreement for four decades of usufruct on 47 million square meters area to establish poultry farms within the food security project.
In 2019, the Sultanate planted various crops on more than 262,000 acres, producing more than 3 million tonnes of vegetables, fodder and fruits.
Further, fish production also witnessed continuous growth. The total fish production in the first three months of 2019 amounted to 202 thousand tonnes, while the average per capita share of fish production in the same year amounted to 55.2 kg per person per year, which is greater than the global average estimated at 18 kg, according to a report published in ONA.
Despite the challenges represented by the lack of arable land and water scarcity, Oman seeks to increase its production of crops such as dates, lemons, guavas, grapes, pomegranates, and others.
The Sultanate also seeks to maximise its production of tomatoes, cucumbers, carrots, watermelons, garlic and onions.
Wheat and barley top the well-known field crops in Oman. Governorates of Al Dakhiliyah and Al Dhahirah are characterised by abundant production of these two crops, yet the Sultanate is expanding in agriculture outside its borders.
The idea of foreign agricultural investment in the Sultanate is based on short, medium and long periods of time, with the aim of strengthening the food security system, and working on the optimal use of water resources in the Sultanate.