Muscat: In its 6th regular session of the tenth term, the Shura Council welcomed the Minister of Agricultural, Fisheries Wealth and Water Resources. The session focused on five key areas, including the performance of the food and water security sector and its contribution to the country's gross domestic product. These discussions were in line with the objectives outlined in the tenth five-year development plan (2021-2025) and the food security laboratories.
The Minister emphasized the Ministry's commitment to aligning its strategies with the "Oman 2040" vision. This alignment aims to strengthen the food security system in the Sultanate of Oman and improve the performance indicators of the agricultural, fisheries, and water resources sectors. The Ministry plans to achieve this by implementing programs and projects that are directly linked to the national priorities of the vision.
The Minister also highlighted the importance of the private sector as a crucial partner in comprehensive development. The Ministry has actively involved the private sector in agricultural, fishery, and aquatic investment projects. This collaboration relies on strategic planning and the utilization of modern technologies in production.
Furthermore, the Minister announced an increase in the total volume of food production from plant, animal, and fish sources. The production is projected to rise from 3.9 million tons in 2019 to 4.7 million tonnes in 2022, achieving an average growth rate of 6.4%.
Regarding self-sufficiency rates, the Minister stated that the Sultanate has achieved significant progress. The self-sufficiency rates for various food items are as follows: dates (97%), fresh milk (88%), poultry (61%), table eggs (59%), vegetables (77%), red meat (44%), and fruits (26%).
In collaboration with the Ministry of Housing and Urban Planning, the Ministry has initiated the establishment of agricultural cities. These cities are comprehensive agricultural plans that provide designated lands for investment based on their specific requirements. The cities also offer all the necessary basic services to support food security projects. As a first step, two agreements have already been signed to create two agricultural cities.
