Jabal Al Akhdar: The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Water Resources has successfully cultivated blueberry trees in the Wilayat of Jabal Al Akhdar, located in the Al Dakhiliyah Governorate.
This initiative is part of the ministry's strategy to invest in economically valuable agricultural crops, particularly in colder mountainous regions.
The blueberry cultivation spans an area of 1,000 square meters, with each plant yielding between 3 to 5 kilograms of fruit.
Engineer Mohannad bin Al Khatab Al Hinai, the owner of the blueberry plantation, noted that the project features approximately 500 plants of four distinct varieties of Southern Highbush, imported from the Republic of Georgia. This marks the first trial project under the guidance of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Water Resources. These blueberry varieties require between 200 to 400 chilling hours (periods when temperatures fall below 7 °C), making the climate of Al Jabal Al Akhdar particularly suitable.
He mentioned that the fruit harvesting season occurs from May to the end of June each year, and the trees thrive in soil with a pH level ranging from 4.5 to 5.5. The project adheres to sustainable agricultural practices, employing modern irrigation techniques and periodic applications of liquefied organic fertilizer on the plant leaves.
According to him, this initiative enhances crop diversification and strengthens sustainable agricultural systems, while also offering residents and visitors of the wilayat the chance to pick fresh blueberries.
Dr. Masaud bin Sulaiman Al Azri, the Director General of Agricultural and Fisheries Marketing at the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Water Resources, stated that the ministry plays a crucial role in alleviating the challenges encountered by investors and farmers, in addition to enhancing plant productivity. Furthermore, the ministry provides support and agricultural services through its research centers and advisory departments.
