The agriculture sector in Oman has been given a new boost of support from the highest authority in the country, H.M. The Sultan. This is the result of symposium on sustainable agriculture in the Royal Camp in Ibri. It was meant to follow up on earlier symposium that was held in 2007 in Samail, Oman. This is an important step especially with regard to support for research and new farming technologies that will influence those working in this sector. Below is the story from Oman Observer newspaper outlining the support of the symposium recommendations.
IBRI — His Majesty Sultan Qaboos has issued Royal orders to plant one million date palms in the Sultanate and establish a RO 7 million fund to support rural women’s projects in the field of livestock and honey bee keeping. His Majesty the Sultan also ordered the allocation of RO20 million to support farmers and agricultural programmes.
The sum will be distributed as follows: RO 10 million to provide technical upgrading programmes for the agricultural sector to boost modern technologies used in irrigation systems, greenhouse farming, agricultural automation, livestock breeding; RO 4 million to support pest control programmes and use environment-friendly pest control means; RO 3 million to support research programme to develop the agriculture sector; and RO 3 million for the maintenance of aflaj (traditional irrigation systems).
His Majesty the Sultan also approved a seasonal soft loan programme offered to farmers by Oman Development Bank (ODB). The programme will continue to be enforced till such a time that Article 2 of Royal Decree No 18/2006 is amended. The Royal directives were announced here yesterday by Ahmed bin Abdulnabi Macki, Minister of National Economy and Deputy Chairman of the Financial Affairs and Energy Resources Council, at the conclusion of the symposium on the follow-up and implementation of recommendations on sustainable development in the agriculture sector. The three-day event was held at the Royal Camp at Saih al Masarrat in the Wilayat of Ibri in pursuance of His Majesty’s directives. — ONA
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