Muscat – As many as 22 farmers and date processing firms will take part in the Omani Dates Market in Mall of Muscat from March 22-29.

An official at the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Water Resources (MAFWR), said that participating businesses will come from various governorates. “The outlets will be open to public from 10am to 10pm at Mall of Muscat,” he said.

“The market will display most important varieties of dates such as Khalas, Al Dhahirah, Fard, Khenizi Berni, Handal Bunarenga, Khasab, Umm al Sala, Majhoul, Sukkari, and others.”

“The outlets aim to promote and support farmers’ products, increase the value of Omani dates, and encourage further investment in farming to increase local production, raise quality and marketing it in an efficient way,” said the official.

According to MAFWR, dates production in the sultanate increased in 2019 compared to 2018 and 2017.

According to the statistics, the sultanate produced 377,000 tonnes of dates in 2019, 369,000 tonnes in 2018 and 361,000 tonnes in 2017.