Latest news with #local production
Zawya
12-08-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Oman: Olive sector grows to 20,000 trees, 83 tonnes in annual yield
MUSCAT: Across the mountains, particularly in Al Jabal Al Akhdhar and the Western Hajar range, olive trees thrive in a revitalised agricultural landscape that reflects the nation's ambitious vision for food security and diversified income. The journey began in the 1990s with the introduction of 10,000 saplings from various cultivars. Some varieties quickly adapted to local conditions, laying the groundwork for olive farming as a promising sector. Today, success is not only in cultivation but also in production. In 2022, Oman produced over 83 tonnes of olives and 10,000 litres of olive oil. Yet, demand far outstrips supply, with more than 24,000 tonnes of olives imported between 2020 and 2022 — underscoring the need to boost local output. Government bodies and institutions have supported farmers through free sapling distribution, training programmes and modern olive mills, increasing the number of trees to 20,000. Omani olive oil is now gaining regional and international recognition for its high quality and distinctive flavour. Sustainable growth, however, demands overcoming challenges — a mission championed by Prof Rashid bin Abdullah al Yahyai of the College of Agricultural and Marine Sciences. His project identifies optimal cultivation areas based on climate and water resources, introduces high-yielding varieties, and promotes best practices in pruning, irrigation and fertilisation. Innovation is also driving the sector forward. By-products such as olive leaves and pomace, often discarded, are being explored for transformation into value-added nutritional and functional products. Research aims to enhance processing efficiency and create sustainable economic solutions for operational hurdles. These efforts form a clear road map — not just towards self-sufficiency, but towards positioning Oman as a significant player in the regional olive market. In doing so, Oman enhances food security and bolsters its economy by fostering an innovative and sustainable agricultural sector.
Yahoo
10-07-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
India automaker Mahindra, parts maker Minda eye local magnet production, sources say
By Aditi Shah and Neha Arora NEW DELHI (Reuters) -Indian auto company Mahindra & Mahindra and parts maker Uno Minda are looking to make rare earth magnets locally to cut reliance on China, as New Delhi draws up incentives for production of the critical components, company and government sources told Reuters. China, which produces around 90% of the world's rare earth magnets, put restrictions in April on their export, and while it has restarted some supplies to the United States and Europe, Indian companies are still awaiting clearance from Beijing. The disruption has prompted Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government to look at building up stockpiles of magnets and offering incentives for the domestic manufacture of the components critical to making electric vehicles and electronics. "Some companies have shown interest in investing or setting up rare earth magnet production, including Mahindra," said a senior government official in Modi's administration. "It will take a year or two to have our own production ... But we have to find ways to be independent," he said. During a meeting in June with India's ministry of heavy industries, Mahindra said it is open to partnering with a company to make magnets or entering a long-term contract with a supplier producing them locally, according to one of the sources. Mahindra, which recently launched two electric SUVs, has captive demand for magnets and has indicated that the investment to make them locally is not that high, said the source. Uno Minda, supplier of parts to major carmakers in India like Maruti Suzuki, also expressed interest in local magnet manufacturing at the same meeting, two of the sources said. Maruti has already warned of production delays amid the disruption of rare earth magnet supply from China. Component maker Sona Comstar, which supplies gears and motors to companies including Ford and Stellantis, was the first Indian company to show interest in making magnets domestically, it told Reuters in June. Mahindra declined to comment. Minda and the ministry of heavy industries did not immediately respond to a request for comment. A final decision by the two companies on the timeline of any investment into making rare earth magnets will depend on incentives offered by the government and the availability of raw materials, two of the sources said. Availability of raw materials in India, which has the world's fifth-largest reserves of rare earth minerals, is not the biggest challenge. But the mining of them is. The government controls rare earth mining through its entity IREL, which had an output of about 2,900 tons of rare earth ores in 2024. Most materials are used by the country's atomic and defence units, while some are exported to Japan. But after the recent disruption of China's exports, IREL has plans to stop exports and expand its domestic mining and processing. JSW Steel has expressed an interest in mining rare earths in India but it would need government approval, two sources said, adding that mining, unlike magnet production, could take several years. JSW declined to comment. India is also looking to secure raw materials from elsewhere. Last December, IREL sent a team to Myanmar to study local rare earth resources and Modi's government is working with five Central Asian countries to jointly explore the mining of critical minerals. Sign in to access your portfolio
