Al Mudhaibi, North A'Sharqiyah Governorate: The second edition of the Grape Festival is today being held in the Wilayat of Al Mudhaibi. The event capitalizes on the amazing success of its 2023 debut, which recorded grape growing regions in the governorate increasing from 8 to 27 acres, a 238% increase.
The opening ceremony took place under the sponsorship of Dr. Saud Hamoud Al Habsi, Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Water Resources.
Mahmoud Yahya Al Dhuhli, Governor of North A'Sharqiyah, stressed the festival's significance in promoting government-community collaborations while presenting ambitious new agricultural goals. The current edition presents a grape farm project intended to expand an additional 100 acres, bringing total cultivated area to 127 acres, with an estimated production of 635 tonnes worth over OMR 1 million. The project will also provide six new foreign grape kinds chosen for their quality, storage capability, and transport durability to improve competitiveness in domestic and international markets, he said.
The opening day included a documentary tracing the history of grape farming in Oman, as well as a scientific presentation by Dr. Rashid Al Yahyai, Dean of the College of Agricultural and Marine Sciences at Sultan Qaboos University. The presentation focused on agricultural growth through biotechnology and research while underlining the value of farmer-academic institution collaborations. Local farmers shared success stories showcasing updated irrigation methods, organic fertilization, and marketing strategies, along with announcements of new investment agreements supporting grape cultivation and food processing industries.
Before opening the accompanying exhibition, which included specialized displays of grape varieties, processed products, and modern agricultural equipment, the Minister recognized contributing participants and farmers from the public and commercial sectors.
The festival continues on Tuesday with an Agricultural Lab that addresses farming challenges and agricultural investment growth in North Al Sharqiyah, featuring input from specialists and agricultural professionals. Organised in collaboration between the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Water Resources and the North Al Sharqiyah Governor's Office, the event serves as a comprehensive platform to empower farmers, promote agricultural innovation, and position North Al Sharqiyah as a promising agricultural center in Oman, with participation from government and private institutions.
The event emphasizes grapes as a potential crop for Oman's food security while also encouraging qualitative agricultural investments in line with Oman Vision 2040 goals.
