Latest news with #AgriculturalandFisheriesDevelopmentFund
Observer
06-05-2025
- Business
- Observer
Contributions of the AgriFish Fund to the fisheries sector
The fisheries sector plays a crucial role in enhancing food security and fostering local economic growth in the Sultanate of Oman. In 2023, total fish production in Oman was estimated at approximately 793,000 tonnes, with a total value of RO 189 million—an increase of 5.9% compared to 2022. Additionally, the fisheries sector's contribution to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) grew from RO 364.5 million to RO 427.7 million over the same period, reflecting a growth rate of 17.3%. Notably, more than 90% of fishing activities rely on artisanal fishing and related operations, ensuring the sector's sustainability. The Agricultural and Fisheries Development Fund has financed several projects within the fisheries sector, with a total of 13 projects implemented by the end of 2023. These projects have been categorized into eight specialized fields, including advisory and monitoring initiatives aimed at raising awareness and promoting best practices to safeguard and efficiently utilize marine resources. The fund has also supported aquaculture projects, recognizing the importance of preserving local genetic resources and enhancing performance efficiency. Other funded projects have focused on fishery resource development, fish quality and safety control, as well as fish product marketing and processing. One of the significant advancements in the sector has been the successful introduction of an electronic marketing system across five fish markets—Sohar, Qurayyat, the new Seeb market, Masirah, and Dibba. Additionally, efforts are underway to establish a central drying unit for small pelagic fish (such as sardines and anchovies) following research trials aimed at identifying optimal practices to maximize value addition. Another key initiative involves enhancing natural fish stocks by deploying artificial coral reefs, which attract thousands of fish and marine organisms, fostering a suitable environment for reproduction. Beyond financing projects that directly boost fish production, the Agricultural and Fisheries Development Fund has also supported initiatives in statistical and knowledge-based development. One such project is the establishment of a Fishermen's Village in the Arabian Sea, off the coast of Masirah Island. This initiative aims to encourage artisanal fishing activities by providing fishermen with stable accommodations during peak fishing seasons, ultimately increasing fish production and improving their incomes. Additionally, a comprehensive media program has been implemented to document and preserve Oman's intangible maritime heritage, including the classification and documentation of traditional fishing customs and practices. In summary, the fund's efforts in the fisheries and artisanal fishing sectors have primarily focused on increasing productivity through the modernization of equipment and techniques. These initiatives have also contributed to income diversification by supporting fish farming and industrial development, benefiting both fishermen and investors in the sector. Furthermore, the fund has played a pivotal role in environmental conservation, promoting sustainable fishing practices and marine ecosystem protection. Ultimately, the Agricultural and Fisheries Development Fund has been instrumental in advancing Oman's fisheries sector, improving fishermen's livelihoods, strengthening the national economy, and enhancing food security.
Zawya
11-04-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Oman sees strong start to 2025 wheat harvest season
Muscat – Wheat harvesting is in full swing across Oman, with officials predicting a strong yield for the 2025 season, driven by expanded cultivation efforts and improved agricultural support. Harvesting operations began in late March and are expected to continue through April and May, covering several governorates including North Sharqiyah, Buraimi, Dhahirah, and Dakhliyah. In the wilayat of Bahla alone, the villages of Al Ghafat, Al Jilah, Bilad Sayt, Saih al Maashi, and Wadi Quriyat have commenced harvesting under the supervision of specialists from the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Water Resources. An official from the ministry said the current season has already shown signs of high productivity and grain quality just a week into the harvest. 'This reflects the continued interest of farmers and the ministry's efforts to expand cultivated areas and improve wheat production,' the official noted. The Najd region in Dhofar governorate has emerged as a focal point for future wheat cultivation due to its extensive farmland and groundwater reserves. 'The Najd area holds great promise for sustainable agricultural development,' the official said. The government has introduced a range of measures to support the sector. These include providing fortified wheat seeds such as the Wadi Quriyat 110, 308, 226, 227, Jabreen, and Koli varieties – along with modern harvesting equipment. Several new wheat harvesters have also been deployed with support from the Agricultural and Fisheries Development Fund. The ministry has also strengthened its collaboration with the private sector. A recent memorandum of cooperation with Oman Flour Mills Company will see the company purchase locally grown wheat from farmers at a rate of RO500 per tonne. The agreement is expected to incentivise farmers and help raise the national wheat output. Wheat production in Oman reached 7,119 tonnes during the 2022–23 season, marking a 229% increase over the previous year's yield of 2,169 tonnes. The area under wheat cultivation expanded by 160% to 6,359 acres, while the number of farmers engaged in the sector grew by 22%. Officials say this upward trend reflects a broader national strategy to achieve food security and reduce reliance on imports, with wheat now positioned as a strategic crop in the sultanate's agricultural agenda. © Apex Press and Publishing Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (
Muscat Daily
09-04-2025
- Business
- Muscat Daily
Oman sees strong start to 2025 wheat harvest season
Muscat – Wheat harvesting is in full swing across Oman, with officials predicting a strong yield for the 2025 season, driven by expanded cultivation efforts and improved agricultural support. Harvesting operations began in late March and are expected to continue through April and May, covering several governorates including North Sharqiyah, Buraimi, Dhahirah, and Dakhliyah. In the wilayat of Bahla alone, the villages of Al Ghafat, Al Jilah, Bilad Sayt, Saih al Maashi, and Wadi Quriyat have commenced harvesting under the supervision of specialists from the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Water Resources. An official from the ministry said the current season has already shown signs of high productivity and grain quality just a week into the harvest. 'This reflects the continued interest of farmers and the ministry's efforts to expand cultivated areas and improve wheat production,' the official noted. The Najd region in Dhofar governorate has emerged as a focal point for future wheat cultivation due to its extensive farmland and groundwater reserves. 'The Najd area holds great promise for sustainable agricultural development,' the official said. The government has introduced a range of measures to support the sector. These include providing fortified wheat seeds such as the Wadi Quriyat 110, 308, 226, 227, Jabreen, and Koli varieties – along with modern harvesting equipment. Several new wheat harvesters have also been deployed with support from the Agricultural and Fisheries Development Fund. The ministry has also strengthened its collaboration with the private sector. A recent memorandum of cooperation with Oman Flour Mills Company will see the company purchase locally grown wheat from farmers at a rate of RO500 per tonne. The agreement is expected to incentivise farmers and help raise the national wheat output. Wheat production in Oman reached 7,119 tonnes during the 2022–23 season, marking a 229% increase over the previous year's yield of 2,169 tonnes. The area under wheat cultivation expanded by 160% to 6,359 acres, while the number of farmers engaged in the sector grew by 22%. Officials say this upward trend reflects a broader national strategy to achieve food security and reduce reliance on imports, with wheat now positioned as a strategic crop in the sultanate's agricultural agenda.
Zawya
19-03-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Oman: AgriFish Fund unlocks sustainable solutions
The Agricultural and Fisheries Development Fund aims to preserve and develop agricultural, livestock and fisheries resources, enhance institutional and human capacities; and promote innovation and investment to achieve sustainable food security. To realise these objectives, the fund has established several programmes under which it finances various projects. These programmes are generally categorised into two main groups: specialised programmes and joint programmes. SPECIALISED PROGRAMMES Among the key specialised programmes developed by the Agricultural and Fisheries Development Fund is a dedicated programme for the development and expansion of aquaculture. Aquaculture in Oman provides effective solutions to address contemporary environmental challenges, including climate change and overfishing, which have threatened fish stocks and led to declining yields in traditional fisheries. Commercial aquaculture was introduced in the Sultanate of Oman in 2003 and has since become a critical component of fisheries sector development, significantly boosting production. Another specialised programme focuses on the use of non-traditional water sources in agricultural production. This includes the utilisation of treated wastewater, desalinated water, produced water from oil extraction and artificial rainfall. Scientific studies conducted by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Water Resources have demonstrated that treated wastewater can safely be used for cultivating seasonal fodder crops and grain crops for seed production. These studies confirmed that the treated water and the resulting crops were free from microbial activity and that heavy metal concentrations remained within safe limits as per Omani standards. Given that date palms are the most widely cultivated crop in Oman in terms of both area and production volume, a specialised programme has also been established for their development. Dates hold significant economic, environmental and social value due to their deep cultural connection with Omani heritage. The programme aims to enhance the role of date palms in food security by improving productivity and advancing processing techniques for date-based products. JOINT PROGRAMMES The Agricultural and Fisheries Development Fund has also launched several collaborative programmes in partnership with private sector institutions and local communities. One of the key initiatives in this category is the Innovation Programme, which promotes innovation in agricultural, livestock and fisheries applications. Innovation plays a fundamental role in diversifying, improving and localising production systems while enhancing services and marketing strategies. The programme has helped address challenges facing agricultural, livestock and fisheries production by integrating advanced technologies and supporting applied scientific research. As a result, the programme has significantly increased the value-added of various products and optimised the use of local resources. Another notable joint programme focuses on enhancing the role of rural and coastal women in agricultural, livestock and fisheries development. This initiative offers specialised training packages tailored to women, helping them improve product quality and develop effective marketing solutions. By doing so, the programme has empowered women to contribute actively to economic and social development. Additionally, the fund has implemented programmes aimed at developing local feed industries for livestock and fisheries. The availability of animal feed is one of the major challenges affecting the growth of livestock production and aquaculture. Historically, Oman has relied on imported raw materials for feed production, leading to high production costs and market instability due to fluctuating global prices. To address this issue, the fund has invested in local feed industry development by utilising agricultural and fishery byproducts — such as palm tree residues and sardines — as key inputs. These initiatives have improved feed availability, reduced production costs and decreased reliance on imports. In summary, the programmes implemented by the Agricultural and Fisheries Development Fund — whether specialised or joint — have played a vital role in overcoming challenges facing agricultural and food production sectors in Oman. These initiatives have strengthened local producers, supported food security and provided sustainable solutions to pressing issues such as climate change, water scarcity and agricultural pests affecting crop yield and quality. 2022 © All right reserved for Oman Establishment for Press, Publication and Advertising (OEPPA) Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (
Observer
18-03-2025
- Business
- Observer
AgriFish Fund unlocks sustainable solutions
The Agricultural and Fisheries Development Fund aims to preserve and develop agricultural, livestock and fisheries resources, enhance institutional and human capacities; and promote innovation and investment to achieve sustainable food security. To realise these objectives, the fund has established several programmes under which it finances various projects. These programmes are generally categorised into two main groups: specialised programmes and joint programmes. SPECIALISED PROGRAMMES Among the key specialised programmes developed by the Agricultural and Fisheries Development Fund is a dedicated programme for the development and expansion of aquaculture. Aquaculture in Oman provides effective solutions to address contemporary environmental challenges, including climate change and overfishing, which have threatened fish stocks and led to declining yields in traditional fisheries. Commercial aquaculture was introduced in the Sultanate of Oman in 2003 and has since become a critical component of fisheries sector development, significantly boosting production. Another specialised programme focuses on the use of non-traditional water sources in agricultural production. This includes the utilisation of treated wastewater, desalinated water, produced water from oil extraction and artificial rainfall. Scientific studies conducted by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Water Resources have demonstrated that treated wastewater can safely be used for cultivating seasonal fodder crops and grain crops for seed production. These studies confirmed that the treated water and the resulting crops were free from microbial activity and that heavy metal concentrations remained within safe limits as per Omani standards. Given that date palms are the most widely cultivated crop in Oman in terms of both area and production volume, a specialised programme has also been established for their development. Dates hold significant economic, environmental and social value due to their deep cultural connection with Omani heritage. The programme aims to enhance the role of date palms in food security by improving productivity and advancing processing techniques for date-based products. JOINT PROGRAMMES The Agricultural and Fisheries Development Fund has also launched several collaborative programmes in partnership with private sector institutions and local communities. One of the key initiatives in this category is the Innovation Programme, which promotes innovation in agricultural, livestock and fisheries applications. Innovation plays a fundamental role in diversifying, improving and localising production systems while enhancing services and marketing strategies. The programme has helped address challenges facing agricultural, livestock and fisheries production by integrating advanced technologies and supporting applied scientific research. As a result, the programme has significantly increased the value-added of various products and optimised the use of local resources. Another notable joint programme focuses on enhancing the role of rural and coastal women in agricultural, livestock and fisheries development. This initiative offers specialised training packages tailored to women, helping them improve product quality and develop effective marketing solutions. By doing so, the programme has empowered women to contribute actively to economic and social development. Additionally, the fund has implemented programmes aimed at developing local feed industries for livestock and fisheries. The availability of animal feed is one of the major challenges affecting the growth of livestock production and aquaculture. Historically, Oman has relied on imported raw materials for feed production, leading to high production costs and market instability due to fluctuating global prices. To address this issue, the fund has invested in local feed industry development by utilising agricultural and fishery byproducts — such as palm tree residues and sardines — as key inputs. These initiatives have improved feed availability, reduced production costs and decreased reliance on imports. In summary, the programmes implemented by the Agricultural and Fisheries Development Fund — whether specialised or joint — have played a vital role in overcoming challenges facing agricultural and food production sectors in Oman. These initiatives have strengthened local producers, supported food security and provided sustainable solutions to pressing issues such as climate change, water scarcity and agricultural pests affecting crop yield and quality. The writer is Executive Director - Agricultural and Fisheries Development Fund
