Muscat: The Central Fruit and Vegetable Market, recognized as Silal, has achieved a notable milestone by reducing the loss rate of fruits and vegetables to less than 5%. This represents a significant improvement from the previous loss rate of 35% observed at the Mawaleh Market.
Ali bin Muslim Al-Muqbali, the Managing Director of Silal, attributes this success to the market's advanced facilities. Among these, the state-of-the-art air-conditioned exhibition hall stands out, offering a controlled environment for agricultural products. In contrast, the products at Mawaleh Market were displayed in an open hall susceptible to harsh weather conditions, particularly during the summer, leading to accelerated spoilage and a higher loss rate.
Al-Muqbali emphasized that Silal, the region's newest wholesale market for fruits and vegetables, has significantly lowered loss rates due to its comprehensive facilities. The market provides an ideal setting for the display, sorting, and storage of products, ensuring the efficient handling and preservation of large quantities of vegetables and fruits. The refrigerated warehouses and air-conditioned exhibition areas have been instrumental in maintaining product quality, thereby enabling the delivery of high-quality produce to consumers.
The Silal Market boasts an air-conditioned wholesale hall spanning 30,000 square meters, complemented by 90 refrigerated warehouses, each measuring 126 square meters. Plans are currently underway to expand the cooling and storage areas by an additional 21,000 square meters, thereby increasing the market's capacity to approximately 31,000 tons. This expansion is in response to the growing demand from traders and local and international companies operating within the market.
Located within the Food City at Khazaen Economic City in Barka, South Al Batinah Governorate, Silal enjoys a strategic position along the Al Batinah Expressway. It is situated just half an hour from Muscat International Airport and Suwaiq Port, and approximately two hours from Sohar Port, facilitating the efficient movement of goods to and from the market, ensuring timely delivery to various local markets.
Al-Muqbali highlighted that Silal, serving as a wholesale hub for the receipt and redistribution of vegetables and fruits across Oman, is equipped with facilities that meet the stringent quality requirements of the sector. A notable facility is the one-stop inspection station, which offers integrated services while adhering to all health standards. The reduction in the loss rate at Silal underscores the market's pivotal role in advancing Oman's wholesale sector for fruits and vegetables. Al-Muqbali expressed confidence in achieving further positive outcomes in the areas of storage, handling, and marketing of local products, thereby meeting the expectations of traders, consumers, and all stakeholders involved with Silal.
