Dhofar farmer harvests bumper jackfruit crop
With one farmer in Dhofar succeeding in his experiments to grow jackfruit, a new chapter is being scripted in Oman’s efforts in agricultural diversification.
Ahmed Said Masoud al Kathiri from the wilayat of Salalah has earned a reputation of being a master cultivator owing to his penchant and skills in growing a variety of fruits. He claims to grow around 700 varieties of fruits on his ten-hectare farm.
His most recent project saw the harvest of his first crop of jackfruits in April this year.
“I planted nine varieties of jackfruit that I brought from countries like Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand. We started harvesting in April and sold about nine tonnes of jackfruit in local markets.”
Kathiri informed that the farm now has more than 300 jackfruit trees. Jackfruit ( Artocarpus heterophyllus) belongs to the family of figs, mulberry and breadfruit ( Moraceae). “It originated from the Western Ghats of southern India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and the rainforests of the Philippines, Indonesia and Malaysia.”
The jackfruit tree is well-suited to tropical lowlands, and is widely cultivated throughout tropical regions of the world. It bears the largest fruit borne by any tree, weighing as much as 55kg, growing to a length of 90cm and diameter of 50cm.
Kathiri has been farming for 22 years, producing a diverse mix of fruits, including mangoes, fig, bananas, berries, avocados, and red and white dragons. He started cultivating fruits in 2000 for additional income.
Kathiri has also succeeded in growing coffee trees. “I planted two types of coffee - Yemeni and Mexican coffee. Yemeni coffee is harvested at the end of July, and production from one tree yields 4-5kg. I recently started adding some trees to the farm to increase production commercially,” said Kathiri.
Earlier a programme presenter on Oman Radio, all his free time was spent growing different types of fruits.
“I faced many challenges, but mainly the ruggedness of the land and lack of water. I was told growing tropical trees was not feasible in Dhofar. But I was determined to overcome whatever the problem. I also dug a 40m deep well at a cost of more than RO42,000 to tackle the irrigation problem.”
Kathiri has visited several countries to gain knowledge and insights into the farming methods employed in papaya cultivation. “Today, farmers in the sultanate grow a wide variety of fruits all year round.”
Urging Omani youth to work in the agriculture sector, Kathiri said, “It is profitable work. Our land is a treasure for future generations. Many countries depend on agriculture as the main source of income. I hope to grow a lot of diverse crops and increase the area of land under cultivation.”
I planted nine varieties of jackfruit that I brought from countries like Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand. We started harvesting in April and sold about nine tonnes of jackfruit in local markets
Ahmed Said masoud Al Kathiri