Page 38 - AA 2022 YEAR BOOK

Oman

OMAN FRUITS AND VEGETABLES MARKET - GROWTH, AND

FORECASTS (2021 - 2026)

Fruits and Vegetable sector remained a larger section of the population, constraint to greenhouse cucumber
intact during the pandemic outbreak, especially millennials, is leading them production in Oman. Average losses of
Covid-19. Agriculture being considered to move toward organic products. To over 6.0% of seedlings are common,
as the pillar of economic growth, has meet this demand, many organic farms with much higher losses occurring on
resulted in the immediate response have launched new organic products. ? many farms, especially where crop
from the Oman government to ensure management practices are poor, thus
food safety and security in the country. The organic farm, Masrooq farm in acting as a hindrance in the production
According to Oman’s agriculture Ibri, Al Dhahirah Governorate, has of cucumbers in the country. However,
ministry, despite of Covid-19, agriculture totally switched to organic cultivation with increasing focus towards boosting
and fisheries sector has seen a growth of in 2018 focusing on organic dates. ?The the crop production, various awareness
9.8% in 2019-2020. Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, programmes are being conducted on
in cooperation with the authorities crop management practices, which
Owing to rising disposable incomes, concerned, has endeavored to adopt in turn is leading to the growth of the
people in Oman are presently more organic farming through research and makret.
focused on healthier diets, with more development that contribute to the
of fruits and vegetables inclusion.? In
addition, with rising expat population in
Oman, there is a shift in the traditional
dietary habits toward organic food.
?This will influence the vegetable
production in the country. Production
of primary fruits and vegetables in the
country accounted for 546.9 thousand
metric ton and 713.1 thousand metric
ton respectively in 2020. Tomato is
the prominent vegetable produced in
the country followed by egg plants,
cauliflower, chilies and peppers, potato,
carrots and turnips cabbages and other
brassicas. Dates and watermelon were
produced mostly among fruits followed
by banana, mango, lemon and papaya in
2020.?
Furthermore, Oman Investment
Authority (OIA) has announced the
launch of a new project to market
vegetables and fruits in the Sultanate
in cooperation with the Ministry of promotion of organic farming. ?Thus, the
Agriculture and Fisheries in earlier efforts by the government to promote
2020. The project aims to establish model sustainable farming, as well as the
farms in various governorates according growing preference of the consumers for
to the comparative advantage, diversity natural products is driving the demand ADVERTISE
of climates and environments suitable for organic fruits and vegetables in the
for the growth of various crops. Thus, country.?
considering the aforementioned factors IN THE ARAB
market is projected to record a steady
growth.? Demand for Cucumber WORLD
Dominates the Market
Growing Preference For Local Omani cucumber is one of the AGRIBUSINESS
Organic Produce important traditional vegetable crops
grown in the Sultanate of Oman. Different MAGAZINE
The demand for organic food is names, such as Samail, Bahla, and Nizwa,
gaining traction among the consumers, were given to local types, resulting in
bolstered by the consumers’ growing about 24 different accessions of local AND PROMOTE
concern for health and wellness. The cucumber. The increased consumer
demand is strong for fresh fruits and demand for cucumber in recent years YOUR
vegetables. Higher disposable incomes has resulted in the expansion of the area
has resulted the consumers to shift of under cultivation and the introduction
from a carbohydrate-based staple diet of new hybrid cultivars. The damping-off PRODUCTS
to a nutrition-rich diet. In addition, the disease is the most important biological
growing awareness of health among
36 Arab Agriculture 2022