Muscat – The Agricultural and Fisheries Development Fund (AFDF) supported 22 new projects in 2022, at a cost of RO2.846mn. The milestone brings the total number of projects funded by AFDF since its inception in 2004 to 275, with an overall cost of RO46.157mn.

Dr Masoud al Azri, Executive Director at AFDF, outlined the diversity of the projects supported by the fund. These encompass agriculture, livestock, fisheries, and other ventures that align with the Fund’s comprehensive strategy.

In an interview with ONA, Azri elaborated on the key objectives embedded within the Fund’s 2040 strategy. “Our goals are clear and strategically positioned to strengthen the management of agricultural, animal, and fish resources, ensuring their sustainability. We aim to localise cutting-edge technologies, enhance production, processing, and marketing systems, and provide a detailed value chain analysis,” he stated.

Furthermore, the Fund’s agenda includes efforts to enhance food safety and quality programmes, create jobs for Omanis, diversify income sources, and elevate the living standards for various societal segments.

Azri also emphasised the importance of human capacity building, increased cooperation with partners, and a concerted focus on providing investment opportunities to augment food security.