OMAN — The Directorate General of Agriculture and Water Resources in A’Dhahirah Governorate held a crucial meeting on August 8 to strategize on expanding wheat cultivation in the upcoming agricultural season, strengthening the region’s food security and reducing reliance on wheat imports.
The meeting, led by Eng. Salim Ali Al Omrani, the Director General, aimed to explore and implement measures to significantly increase wheat production in the region.
The discussion centered on enhancing wheat cultivation through greater cooperation between the Directorate General and private investors. The primary goals outlined were to boost wheat production volume, improve food security, and maximize investment returns.
Key to the meeting was evaluating the current wheat cultivation projects situated on lands allocated under the usufruct system.
This system allows for long-term agricultural use while ensuring the land’s return to the state after the lease expires. Investors shared their insights and concerns about these projects, providing a comprehensive overview of their status and the hurdles faced.
Challenges such as soil quality, water resource management, and adverse climatic conditions were identified as significant barriers to increased wheat yields.
In response, Eng. Al Omrani and the attendees discussed potential solutions, including the adoption of modern farming techniques, improved irrigation practices, and enhanced soil management strategies.
The government of Oman have been making strides to achieve sufficiency in wheat through a raft of measures.
In September last year, the Oman Ministry of Housing and Urban Planning recently inked 40 usufruct agreements aimed at initiating food security and wheat production initiatives in the Dhofar Governorate.
Dr Khalfan Said Al Shuaili, the Minister of Housing and Urban Planning, officially signed these agreements in the presence of HH Sayyid Marwan Turki Al Said, the Governor of Dhofar, and Dr Saud Hamoud Al Habsi, the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Water Resources.
The agreements encompassed 37 contracts for cultivating wheat in the Al Najd agricultural district within the Dhofar Governorate, to cover an extensive area of 28 million square meters and involving an investment of OMR 5.5 (US$14.3) million.
These agreements align with the government’s commitment to diversify food security sources, optimize land investments, and enhance land use efficiency in line with the objectives of Oman Vision 2040.
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