Salalah: The Directorate General of Agriculture, Fisheries and Water Resources in Dhofar Governorate has emphasized its commitment to developing sustainable solutions to address the decline in coconut production in the wilayats of Salalah and Taqa. This initiative follows an analysis of data gathered from a survey conducted by collaborative field teams, which included representatives from the consumer protection authority and various government agencies.
Mussalam bin Salim Rafait, the acting Director General at the Directorate General of Agriculture, Fisheries and Water Resources, noted that the availability of coconuts in Dhofar Governorate has diminished over the past decade. This decline is attributed to factors such as the transportation of coconuts to other governorates, improper agricultural practices, the adverse effects of plant pests on both quality and yield, as well as reduced productivity during winter months due to colder weather. Additionally, the area dedicated to coconut cultivation has decreased due to changes in land use.
He further stated that the Directorate is focused on enhancing productivity and expanding the area designated for coconut cultivation. Efforts are underway to identify new cultivation areas, attract investment, and maintain pest control measures, alongside regulating agricultural marketing through local Omani companies.
It is important to highlight that Dhofar Governorate is renowned for its tropical fruit production, particularly coconuts, which thrive in the coastal regions. The annual coconut yield in the Salalah plain is approximately 7,000 tonnes.
