Muscat – The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Water Resources signed four agreements worth over RO12mn with local investors on Thursday.

On the occasion, H E Dr Saud bin Hamoud bin Ahmed al Habsi, Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Water Resources, said, “These projects will enhance and help achieve food security. The ministry will continue to increase the number of food projects and also job opportunities for young people.”

The agricultural sector has already witnessed growth over the past years. This is the result of the continuous cooperation between the public and private sectors to utilise investment opportunities in the agricultural and fisheries sectors.

Integrated Agriculture

The agreements include a project billed ‘Integrated Agriculture’ for production of vegetables and medicinal plants at a cost of RO600,000 in the wilayat of Suwaiq, North Batinah, on an area of 50 acres. The project aims to produce an estimated 1500 tonnes of vegetables and medicinal plants annually and establish modern industries for the production of medicines.

Thyme cultivation

This project, worth RO344,000, is spread over an area of ten acres in the wilayat of Al Kamil W’Al Wafi, South Sharqiyah, to produce Omani thyme using modern agricultural systems and smart technologies. It is expected to provide 8 to 10 per cent of the sultanate’s demand of thyme.

Rabbit breeding

Aiming to produce 14,400 live rabbits annually to supply the local market with white meat, this project worth RO100,000 is located in the wilayat of Sohar on an area spread over three acres of land.

Livestock breeding

A livestock breeding and fodder cultivation project will contribute to raising and fattening livestock of Omani species and producing red meat and improving meat quality at the local level.

Worth RO11,387,000 and located in the wilayat of Mahdah on 574 acres of land, the project will produce 22,000 tonnes of meat annually.