Muscat – Agricultural Production and Marketing Company (APMC), a subsidiary of Oman Investment Authority, has started trial operations of its first outlet in the wilayat of Suwaiq.

Established with an aim to collect, store, process and market vegetables and fruits from farmers, and establish model farms across the sultanate to introduce best agricultural practices, APMC received the first batch of products of Omani farmers on Monday.

The outlet received produce from farmers in the governorates of North and South Batinah.

Salim bin Saif al Abdali, chairman of the Board of Directors of APMC, informed that the company has an ambitious plan to promote and market agricultural products of all kinds in cooperation with associations and farmers, and establish a partnership with them.

“APMC seeks to establish model farms in several governorates to cultivate fruits and vegetables suited to the local environment in cooperation with the Ministry of Agriculture, Wealth, Fisheries and Water Resources and the private sector. This is in addition to establishing shops to sell fresh Omani produce. The company will also cooperate with small and medium enterprises that produce food and agricultural products,” Abdali said.

The company aims to organise marketing of agricultural produce in cooperation with competent authorities in the country, assist farmers in marketing their products – and also help them pay attention to quality and product safety – and export surplus production.

“APMC invites all farmers and producers to cooperate with the company to achieve its goals,” Abdali said.

Last year, APMC signed an agreement with Petroleum Development Oman (PDO) to plant crops and 500,000 trees in the desert over the next ten years. The memorandum of collaboration focuses on a 35sqkm tract of land in Rahab in the south of PDO’s concession area.

Under the agreement, PDO will lease the site to APMC, whi-ch will provide and operate the necessary infrastructure, related facilities and services for tenants, buy and market their produce, as well as promote the area to farmers and investors. Half a million trees and a variety of edible and non-edible crops will be grown, creating jobs in the agricultural sector, supporting Omani SMEs and potentially supplying fresh produce in local markets.