MUSCAT : The cocoa tree is a tropical evergreen that requires precise care during its growth stages. It is characterized by the growth of its fruit on the trunk in the form of pods, with colours that gradually change as they mature.

Eng. Mohammed Ahmed Al Mashaikhi, Head of the Agricultural Services Section, stated that the cocoa tree is considered one of the most prominent tropical crops with high economic value. He pointed out that the stages of its cultivation at the Qairoon Hairiti farm began in 2016 with the aim of determining the extent of its successful cultivation under the climatic conditions of the Dhofar Governorate.

He explained that during the harvest period, cocoa seeds are extracted, undergo a fermentation stage for several days, and then proceed to the drying, roasting, and grinding stages. Cocoa powder is used in various industries, most notably the chocolate industry, some medical drugs, and certain cosmetics, while the outer shell is used as an organic fertilizer.

Regarding the care of cocoa trees, Eng. Salim Ahmed Al Shahri, a Plant Protection Specialist, said that the cocoa trees at the Qairoon Hairiti farm receive continuous monitoring and care to protect them from various pests and to preserve the quality of the fruits.

It is worth noting that the success of the Royal Gardens and Farms of the Royal Court Affairs in cultivating cocoa at the Qairoon Hairiti farm in the Dhofar Governorate represents a qualitative addition to the vision of agricultural experiments for tropical crops in the governorate, opening promising economic horizons in the agricultural sector within the Sultanate of Oman.

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