Wednesday 03 / July / 2024
Muscat: Grape fruit harvest season has begun in North Al Sharqiyah Governorate since mid-May, and will continue until the end of July.
Grape cultivation is widespread in a number of states of the Sultanate of Oman, especially in the mountainous areas characterized by moderate temperatures in the summer, since grapes tolerate low temperatures in winter and moderate temperatures in summer.
Dr. Qais bin Saif Al-Ma'awali, Director of the Agricultural Development Department at the General Directorate of Agricultural Wealth and Water Resources in the North Al Sharqiyah Governorate, said: "The cultivation of grape crops is widespread in a number of governorates of the Sultanate of Oman, especially the governorates of Dhofar, Al Dhahirah, Al Dakhiliyah, and the governorates of North and South Al Batinah, and North and South Al Sharqiyah, where the total area cultivated in Al Sharqiyah is estimated. The Sultanate of Oman has about 200 acres, with a production estimated at 1,000 tons, which represents 4.2 percent of local consumption estimated at 24 thousand tons annually, and an economic return estimated at about OMR 1.5 million."
He added: "The Ministry of Agricultural Wealth, Fisheries and Water Resources has paid special attention to developing grape cultivation in the various governorates of the Sultanate of Oman. This is through the implementation of the model grape farms project in the Wilayat of Ibra in the North Al Sharqiyah Governorate, which aimed to establish “10” model farms for grape production in the village of Al-Haymah in the Wilayat of Ibra, with a total area of “100” acres, in addition to the project to develop grape cultivation and production in the Sultanate of Oman, funded by The Agricultural and Fisheries Development Fund, which aimed to support the establishment of “25” economic grape fields for farmers in various governorates of the Sultanate of Oman, with a total area of “25” acres, in addition to establishing two gene banks for the grape crop in: Jammah in the Al Dakhiliyah Governorate, and Sohar in the North Al Batinah Governorate."
He explained that the total area of grape fields in North Al Sharqiyah Governorate is estimated at “27” acres according to statistical data for the year 2023, as Al Rawdah village in the Niyabat of Samad Al Shaan in the state of Al Mudhaibi contains the largest areas of grape fields in the governorate. With a total area of about “10” acres in 2023, he explained that the growth index showed an increase in the areas of grape fields in North Al Sharqiyah Governorate in the current year 2024 to “27” acres compared to “8” acres in 2012, with a growth rate of “237”% until the year 2023, which indicates the positive efforts being made to advance the agricultural, tourism and economic sector in North Al Sharqiyah Governorate.
It is worth noting that the Ministry of Agricultural Wealth, Fisheries and Water Resources signed in December 2023 an agreement to finance the model grape farms project in the North Al Sharqiyah Governorate, which is financed by the Agricultural Development Fund and the Omani Fertilizer Company “OMIFCO”, according to which a model investment farm for grapes with an area of “100” Acres will be established, of which five acres are allocated for tourism agriculture projects in cooperation with a specialized company.
The fields are managed by farmers specialized in grape cultivation and apply good agricultural practices and modern techniques for growing and producing grapes. This agreement comes to support model grape farms with the aim of strengthening the food security system in the Sultanate of Oman. Where various types of grapes will be grown using all modern technologies in the agricultural field.
