Latest news with #MoAFWR
Observer
02-07-2025
- Business
- Observer
Value of wheat output tops RO 3 million in 2024-2025 season
Muscat: The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Water Resources has affirmed that wheat production has seen significant growth across various governorates of Oman following the implementation of a local wheat support plan starting in 2023. This initiative falls within national efforts to enhance food security and achieve self-sufficiency in staple grains. The ministry clarified that the total production for the 2024-2025 season reached 10,128.341 tonnes, with a market value of RO 3,038,502, cultivated across 8,327 acres. Dhofar Governorate contributed 76 per cent of Oman's total wheat production this year, yielding 7,723 tonnes, followed by Al Dhahirah Governorate with 1,118 tonnes and Al Dakhiliyah with 877.185 tonnes, while the remaining quantities were distributed among other governorates. Dr Khair bin Tuwair al Busaidy, Director of the Palm and Plant Production Department at the MoAFWR, stated that the local wheat support plan aims to strengthen food security systems in line with the objectives of 'Oman Vision 2040". This, he pointed out, is achieved by enabling farmers to cultivate high-yield, high-quality improved wheat varieties, providing assistance in harvesting operations, and offering technical and advisory support. He added that the ministry, in coordination with the Ministry of Housing and Urban Planning, is expanding wheat cultivation by allocating new agricultural lands for wheat farming and offering them as usufruct lands for farmers and investors. Dr Al Busaidy affirmed that the ministry, through its research centres, continues to develop wheat farming, improve local varieties, and introduce new strains adapted to Oman's climate while maintaining high productivity and quality. He explained to Oman News Agency (ONA) that the constructive cooperation and partnership between the MoAFWR and Oman Flour Mills Company has effectively contributed to the sustainability of wheat cultivation. This collaboration has encouraged farmers to continue wheat production and benefit from the support plan. The company annually purchases Omani wheat from farmers as part of its plans to develop local wheat and introduce it to domestic and regional markets as an Omani product. — ONA
Observer
17-04-2025
- Science
- Observer
Food Safety Conference from April 21
Muscat: The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Water Resources (MoAFWR), represented by the Food Safety and Quality Centre, in cooperation with the government agencies concerned with food safety, is organising the 7th Oman International Food Safety and Quality Conference at the Oman Exhibition and Convention Centre (OCEC) from April 21 to 23. The three-day high level conference and discussion sessions will see a number of prominent local and international speakers and experts from several government and private agencies from across the world kick start discussions and debates on special topics on the efforts and challenges facing countries in their quest to ensure food safety and quality, according to Eng Yaqoub bin Khalfan al Busaidy, Under-Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Water Resources for Fisheries, Chairman of the Main Committee for Food Safety Week. On the first day, speech on 'Addressing resilience of food systems globally — the indispensable transformation', will be organised while the key topic of 'Modernising food safety and quality control and oversight — Role of new technologies and Artificial Intelligence' will be discussed as part of the second session. This session will review the role of modern technology in developing innovative solutions that enhance food safety and quality, including but not limited to Modern traceability systems, novel methods used to improve production, storage and distribution processes, as well as using smart sensing technologies that support rapid detection of contaminants The third session on 'Food Fraud' will be dedicated to reviewing methods and approaches supporting efforts to ascertain authenticity of food products, inputs such as pesticides and processes, thus contributing to the protection of consumers' health and confidence in food products available for sale. 'Such efforts are also associated with the reduction of the rate of food loss and waste; and would contribute positively to national economies overall. This session will review food quality management processes and analytical methods used to verify food authenticity and to detect adulterated or counterfeit ingredients, including Mass Spectrometry-based techniques, Infrared spectroscopy (IR), Genetic analysis and sensory or organoleptic tests,' said Dr Hussain, Director General of Food Safety and Quality Center.
Observer
16-04-2025
- Health
- Observer
Oman hosts 7th Food Safety Conference from April 21
MUSCAT: The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Water Resources (MoAFWR), represented by the Food Safety and Quality Centre, in cooperation with the government agencies concerned with food safety, is organising the 7th Oman International Food Safety and Quality Conference at the Oman Exhibition and Convention Centre (OCEC) from April 21 to 23. The three-day high level conference and discussion sessions will see a number of prominent local and international speakers and experts from several government and private agencies from across the world kick start discussions and debates on special topics on the efforts and challenges facing countries in their quest to ensure food safety and quality, according to Eng Yaqoub bin Khalfan al Busaidy, Under-Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Water Resources for Fisheries, Chairman of the Main Committee for Food Safety Week. On the first day, speech on 'Addressing resilience of food systems globally — the indispensable transformation', will be organised while the key topic of 'Modernising food safety and quality control and oversight — Role of new technologies and Artificial Intelligence' will be discussed as part of the second session. This session will review the role of modern technology in developing innovative solutions that enhance food safety and quality, including but not limited to Modern traceability systems, novel methods used to improve production, storage and distribution processes, as well as using smart sensing technologies that support rapid detection of contaminants The third session on 'Food Fraud' will be dedicated to reviewing methods and approaches supporting efforts to ascertain authenticity of food products, inputs such as pesticides and processes, thus contributing to the protection of consumers' health and confidence in food products available for sale. "Such efforts are also associated with the reduction of the rate of food loss and waste; and would contribute positively to national economies overall. This session will review food quality management processes and analytical methods used to verify food authenticity and to detect adulterated or counterfeit ingredients, including Mass Spectrometry-based techniques, Infrared spectroscopy (IR), Genetic analysis and sensory or organoleptic tests," said Dr Hussain, Director General at the Quality Assurance at the Ministry, adding, "Determining food authenticity is the process of verifying the validity and truthfulness of claims related to the characteristics or the source of food ingredients and products." A large group of experts, academicians, think tanks and specialists in food safety, security and other areas of the food sector will join the experts from Oman over the three days brainstorming the challenges and other aspects of food safety, the MoAFWR informed.
Observer
13-02-2025
- Business
- Observer
76 tonnes of Abalone bagged in 10 days
SaLALAH: The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Water Resources (MoAFWR) said that the outcome of its Fisheries Research Centre's 2024 Survey showed a good improvement in abalone catch, both in terms of sizes and abundance. The survey indicated that average abalone catch in 10 days during 2024 stood at more than 76 tonnes, compared to 149 tonnes in 30 fishing days during the 2011 season. The number of licenses issued in 2024 stood at 2,369 compared to 4,418 licenses in 2011. Eng Musallam bin Salim Raafait, Assistant Director General of Fisheries in Dhofar Governorate, said that the Wilayat of Sadah achieved the highest level of abalone catch (93.5 per cent, followed by the Wilayat of Mirbat (6.5 per cent). Eng Musallam added that the importance of Omani abalone lies in its social and economic value, noting that abalone constitutes a source of income for the local community. Abalone is also exported to international markets to further enhance the income of individuals working in the sector, he added. He pointed out that the average price of one kilogramme of Omani abalone is about RO 45 in the local market. He added that the price of one kilogramme of abalone in the global market in 2019 stood at about RO 200. Omani "abalone" is a factor in supporting the tourism sector, attracting visitors and motivating commercial activity. Drones were used for the first time in monitoring abalone fisheries, providing guidance coverage and implementing digital transition in receiving and issuing license applications as a first stage in the 2024 season. — ONA
