As part of its plan to support date palm cultivation in the sultanate, the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries (MoAF) produced 75,000 date seedlings in 2019. 

 

 

Speaking to Muscat Daily, an official at Directorate General for Agricultural and Livestock Research, said, “Experts in the directorate produced around 75,000 varieties of date seedlings last year. Of these, 56,592 include the Al Fardh variety, 8,542 Majahoul, 5,312 Fahal Khoury, 2,000 Fahal Bahlani and 2,554 other varieties.”

 

 

He added, “The genetic footprint of the five varieties shows  the quality and benefit for farmers in the governorates.”

 

 

According to MoAF statistics, the sultanate produced 369,000 tonnes of dates in 2018 compared to 361,000 tonnes in 2017. 

 

 

While in 2016, 355,000 tonnes of dates were produced,  344,000 tonnes were produced in 2015.

 

 

In 2018, Rustaq had the highest date production area with 37,000 tonnes followed by 33,000 tonnes in Sohar, 24,000 tonnes in Ibri, 18,000 tonnes in Suwaiq and 17,000 tonnes in the wilayat of Mudhaibi.

 

 

The ministry stated the Naghl date variety saw the highest production at 36,000 tonnes, followed by 34,000 tonnes of Al Khasab dates, 33,000 tonnes of Al Khalas, 32,000 tonnes of Al Mabsali, and 29,000 tonnes of Umm al Sala.

 

 

Meanwhile, the ministry is implementing a national strategy for the promotion of date palms, by distributing more than half a million seedlings to farmers in various governorates of the 

sultanate.

 

 

The ministry confirmed that it annually distributes seedlings from September to December and any farmer can visitthe nearest Agricultural Development Centre to obtain the seedlings.