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Oman’s Food Security Lab 2024 targets RO 10 million in investments

The Food Security Lab 2024, organized by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Water Resources, is set to transform Oman’s agricultural landscape with significant investment opportunities

TAS News Service

info@thearabianstories.com

Saturday, October 12, 2024

Muscat: The initiative, which continues until next Thursday, is being conducted in collaboration with the Oman Vision 2040 Implementation Follow-up Unit, Nazdar, the National Employment Programme, and private sector partners. Its focus is on boosting local food production and self-sufficiency.

Dr. Masoud bin Suleiman Al Azri, the ministry’s Director General of Agricultural and Fisheries Marketing, revealed that by the lab’s conclusion, 30 investment projects worth over 10 million Omani riyals will be signed. These projects will primarily target strategic crops, including onions, garlic, and potatoes, as well as ventures in fish farming and water resource management.

“these projects are related to a number of strategic crops that have low self-sufficiency rates, such as onions, garlic, potatoes and other strategic crops, fish farming, fish markets and projects in the water resources sector with the aim of raising self-sufficiency rates, reducing the import bill, increasing the value of exports and creating job opportunities for Omanis” Dr. Al Azri stated. Since the inception of the food security labs in 2021, the focus has been on attracting investment and improving local content, with the current workshop introducing key pillars of strategic planning and digital transformation.

A digital initiative, led by the ITCHA group, aims to digitize 248 services offered by the ministry, with the first phase expected to launch 10 services on the “Tharawat” platform by the end of the lab.

The broader investment project aligned with “Oman Vision 2040” includes over 130 initiatives across the Sultanate, some already in trial or commercial operations. Feasibility studies indicate that these projects could surpass RO 1 billion in investment value.

Among the success stories, Oman’s wheat production surged from 2,000 tons in 2022 to over 10,000 tons this year, thanks to government support and incentives for farmers. Additionally, the ministry is developing agricultural areas for crops like mangoes and lemons, with several consulting studies underway to establish agricultural cities in the Saham and Najd regions.

Despite importing 40% of its food, Oman boasts impressive self-sufficiency rates in various crops, such as fish at 158% and dates at 97%. The ministry aims to significantly improve these figures by 2025, especially with the upcoming Al Namaa Poultry Project, which promises to elevate self-sufficiency in poultry production.

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