MUSCAT – The project forms a key part of strategic efforts to develop the value chain for camel milk products while empowering local women producers.

The initiative is being implemented by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Water Resources in partnership with the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), with additional support from the Al Jisr Foundation and Oman Oil Company Exploration and Production (OOCEP).

Eng. Ahmed bin Salim Al Najjar, Director of the Livestock Department in Dhofar, emphasised the project’s role as a model for sustainable rural development. “This pioneering facility will strengthen women’s capabilities in production, processing, and marketing while introducing advanced cheese manufacturing technologies to Oman’s dairy sector,” he stated. The plant will be equipped with state-of-the-art equipment for specialized cheese and dairy production, supporting both food security objectives and income diversification for beneficiary women.

The project includes comprehensive training programmes covering food processing, quality control, packaging, marketing, and financial management. An expanded training schedule for participating women is planned for early next year.

Scheduled for initial operational capacity in the coming months, the project represents a significant step in combining rural women’s economic empowerment with the development of specialised local food industries, demonstrating partners’ commitment to creating measurable developmental impact in Dhofar’s rural communities.