Muscat – Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Water Resources has made strides towards its goal of achieving self-sufficiency in agricultural crops with the successful cultivation of wheat in Masirah Island, South Sharqiyah.

In a statement, the ministry highlighted the success of the Directorate General of Agriculture, Fisheries and Water Resources in South Sharqiyah, which oversaw the cultivation of wheat in a one-and-a-half-acre farm in Masirah Island. The project has shown remarkable success, marking a significant milestone in the country’s agricultural initiatives.

The pilot project is part of a larger strategy to make wheat a strategic crop in the country. Following this successful trial, the ministry plans to expand cultivation area, with the ultimate goal of increasing wheat production to contribute to Oman’s agricultural self-sufficiency.

Technical recommendations are being provided to farmers to support the scaling of this effort.

Oman’s wheat production increased to 7,119 tonnes in the 2022-23 season, marking a substantial growth of 229% from the previous season’s yield of 2,169 tonnes, as per ministry data.

The area under wheat cultivation expanded to 6,359.35 acres, up 160% from the last farming season. The number of farmers engaged in wheat cultivation rose 22% in 2022-23, signifying a growing trend in the sector.