Salalah – A farm operated by the Royal Court Affairs in Dhofar has successfully cultivated cocoa after more than a decade of research, trials and propagation, marking a milestone in Oman’s efforts to diversify tropical agriculture.

The achievement at Qayrun Hairiti Farm follows a programme that began in 2016 to assess whether cocoa could be grown under the climatic conditions of Dhofar, where seasonal humidity and temperatures provide a favourable environment for tropical crops.

Mohammed bin Ahmed Al Mashikhi, Head of the Agricultural Services Department, said cocoa is among the world’s most valuable tropical crops and the project was launched to evaluate its commercial potential in the governorate.

He said the best time to plant cocoa is in September, when temperatures and humidity are at their highest. The trees flower during February and March, while harvesting takes place between September and October.

Cocoa trees typically grow between 3m and 8m in height, although pruning is used to control their size. Their fruits, which develop directly on the trunk, measure between 15cm and 25cm and change colour as they ripen.

After harvesting, the cocoa beans undergo fermentation before being dried, roasted and ground. The resulting cocoa powder is used primarily in chocolate production, as well as in pharmaceutical and cosmetic products, while the outer shells are recycled as organic fertiliser.

Salem bin Ahmed Al Shahri, a plant protection specialist at the farm, said the cocoa trees are monitored continuously to maintain fruit quality and protect them from pests.

He said the farm relies on biological pest control, targeting insects such as aphids and thrips using beneficial predators bred in its biological control laboratory. These include lacewings, together with naturally occurring predators such as ladybirds and parasitic wasps, reducing the need for chemical pesticides.

The success of cocoa cultivation at Qayrun Hairiti Farm adds to Dhofar’s growing portfolio of tropical crops and highlights the governorate’s potential to support high-value agricultural production.

Officials said the project could open new opportunities for agricultural diversification and strengthen Oman’s efforts to expand sustainable crop production suited to local environmental conditions.