Page 38 - FULL YEAR BOOK 2021

Oman

AGRICULTURE SECTOR NEEDS TO EMBRACE MORE TECHNOLOGY

One of the key features that make the the agricultural sector,” says Sanjay
Sultanate of Oman stand out is definitely Borkar, Co-Founder, FarmERP, which has Import & Export Quantity (tonnes) of some
the local dependence on agriculture joined hands with various agri-entities
for which vast mountainous terrains are and has taken up a multitude of projects crops and livestock products in Oman 2017
converted into lush and fecund land, in the Middle-East. Import Import
highly fertile enough to house varied “Cross-industry technologies like Item Quantity Flag Quantity
seeds.
drones collecting data and performing Almonds shelled 827 387
tasks, data analytics for precision Apples 23722 466
agriculture, IoT allowing correlations of Apricots 1600 1
structured and unstructured data hence Barley 131876 45
providing insights into food production Chick peas 9580 1510
will give agriculture in Oman a great Dates 11000 11767
mileage.” Eggplants (aubergines) 253 1369
The Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Eggs, hen, in shell 23807 7404
machine learning for concrete data- Figs 34 1
driven farming, blockchain to secure the Grapes 13612 283
value chain, and nanotechnology with Hazelnuts, shelled 11 5
nanoparticles being delivered to plants Honey, natural 2466 977
and advanced biosensors for precision Jute 11 5
farming in both pre-production as well Lentils 15354 3702
as post-production phases are likely to Maize 199007 5970
help Oman take the traditional farming Mangoes, mangosteens,
to a different level altogether, according guavas 23596 2243
to him. Meat, cattle 2866 124
“Using different techniques in the Meat, chicken 121508 16047
pre-production phase to gain a different Meat, goat 3449 72
result; like sustainable packaging Meat, sheep 12687 86
Dates being the largest crop which is through bioplastics, algae feedstock as a Milk, whole fresh cow 28621 1135
highlighted with the State-run initiative substitute for fish-meals, hydroponics as Oil, sunflower 39560 38545
of 1 Million Date Palm Tree, a large a method of growing plants without the Oranges 44403 2120
variety of vegetables and fruits and use of soil, and desert agriculture and Potatoes 100827 1968
other crops comprise Oman’s local seawater farming by enhancing plant Raisins 986 62
consumption as well as exports. The stress tolerance in extreme conditions.” Sunflower seed 683 48
Food and Agriculture Organisation Sweet potatoes 415 238
(FAO) has identified that the total amount Also, usage of new and improved Tomatoes 34151 8276
of agricultural land present in Oman technologies to increase efficiency in Walnuts, shelled 216 93
is about 1.4 million hectares which are the food chain; like vertical farming to Watermelons 13665 1925
1.46percent of the total land area. provide high quality produce sustainably,
3D printing by using hydrocolloids to Official data
A traditional practice found in northern replace base ingredients of food using Source: FAO Statistical Division 2019
Oman, as well as southern region, both renewables, and genetic modification
urban and rural areas, with people of all (CRISPR Technology) and cultured OMAN’S FISHERIES
ages actively engaged in the process, meats to provide higher yields with less
a range of tomatoes, eggplant, dates, environmental harm are some of the
bananas, limes, and carrots, are the best areas OUTPUT MORE THAN
outputs while wheat too is cultivated in
some parts. DOUBLES IN FIVE YEARS
A profession bequeathed from
generations to generations, farming is, Muscat: Fresh and frozen fish landings
of late not been attended to or given at numerous locations along the
the importance that it deserved leading Sultanate’s lengthy coastline totaled
to paving the way to become a choice 580,240 tons in 2019, up from 279,160
not for the generations to come in the tons in 2016 – representing an increase
technology era. of 107 percent over the intervening five
years.
However, technology can be a tool in
nurturing farming in the country, attract The dramatic growth in fisheries
more youths to this time-tested and output is a reflection of the increasing
natural cultivation contributing to an Oman farming can look into for importance of the sector to Oman’s
agronomical and healthy society. a better yield and mark its strong economic development and GDP
presence in the GDP. growth, as well as the result of ongoing
“The integration of tech factors can investments in new and upgraded
directly correlate with productivity in fishery harbors, modern coastal

36 Arab Agriculture 2021

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