Fruitful life of an Omani farmer
GOVERNMENT ENSURES TRADITIONAL OCCUPATION CONTINUES TO THRIVE BY PROVIDING TOOLS, SEEDS AND EXPERTISE FOR FREE
Government ensures 77,000 people working in the agriculture sector continue to thrive by providing them with tools, seeds and expertise for free
Despite his old age and bad back, 70-yearold Omani farmer Mohammad Al Riyami continues to till his family-owned farm nestled in Jebel Al Akhdar mountain, more than 3,000 metres above sea level.
Al Riyami wakes up in early morning hours every day in his tiny village, Al Ain, and with shovel in hand walks 15 minutes to his farm.
“I take my breakfast and then head to work. At noon I walk back home for some rest and lunch and at around 3.30pm I return to my farm and work there until the sun sets,” he told Gulf News.
“I have been doing this for almost 40 years. My father taught me everything about farming and he made me promise to him on his deathbed to take care of the farm.” Al Riyami’s farm is one of hundreds in the Jebel Al Akhdar region.
“Even though my son is in university, I have taught him how to tend the crops, as he will be entrusted to take care of the farm when I’m gone,” he said.
Farm’s yields
Al Riyami’s 20-acre farm yields pomegranates, figs, apricots, garlic and onions.
Part of the Hajar mountain range, Jebel Al Akhdar [the Green Mountain] is approximately a two-hour drive from the capital where cooler climate allows for the growth of grapes, strawberries, raspberries, plums, figs, almonds, walnuts, pears and apricots.
The pomegranates of Jebel Al Akhdar region are one of the most sought-after variety in the whole region. Al Riyami’s farm has around 75 pomegranate trees.
On average, Al Riyami earns around 7,000 riyals a month by selling his produce at the Nizwa fruit and vegetable market every week.
“This is a healthy income for me. I am able to take care of my family and buy seeds and maintain the farm tools and machinery with this money,” he said. “We save money on buying groceries as most of our food comes from the farm. It has been a good life for us here. I don’t feel like I am 70.”
Most of the farms in Jebel Al Akhdar are run and managed by Omani farmers.
More than 77,000 Omanis work in the agriculture sector on 194,000 farms nationwide, according to the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries figures.
Agricultural tools, seeds and guide booklets are provided to Omani farmers free of charge by the government.
Around 100,000 expatriates also work in the agricultural sector nationwide, according to the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries figures — most of them Bangladeshis.
Last year, dozens of expatriate farmers were caught in the North and South Batinah regions for using excessive pesticides and chemicals to speed up growth of the crop.
“I have never used pesticides in my farm. I use only natural fertilisers for my crops. I don’t want to cheat the consumers. Excessive use of pesticides is unsafe for health,” Al Riyami said.
Al Riyami used to till the farm’s soil with a pair of oxen, but he bought a tractor five years ago. “I am getting older,” he said. “I am not as strong as I was before to do heavy duty labour.”
But despite the intensive hard work required to manage the farm, he refuses to hire workers to help him.
“This is our land and I am loyal to it. We should not depend on others to take care of it,” Al Riyami said.