Ministry of Agriculture:
Oman: Dhofar holds potential for range of crops
Experiments conducted by the Ministry of Agriculture have encouraging results which suggest that besides several citrus varieties, coffee and grapes can be successfully grown in these areas, according to Professor Gamaleldin Abdel Hay Hamid.
A pomologist by profession, Prof Gamaleldin strongly recommends value addition in efforts to fruit and vegetable farming in Salalah and calls for an effective marketing chain to give direct benefit to fruit and vegetable growers.
"This area has a unique climate which is considered one of its kind in the whole Arabian peninsula. It has the most diverse topography extending from Salalah plain in the coastal region up to the wooded hills (Dhofar Jabel) which reaches up to 1,500-metre elevation followed by the desert or 'Nejd' area. This diversity in climate and topography makes the region suitable for growing a wide range of fruit crops," he says.
Tropical fruits like banana, coconut and papaya are dominating the coastal areas or Salalah plain. Besides, fruits like lime, guava, pomegranate, fig and custard apple are also grown in limited areas of Salalah plain.
"A wide range of exotic fruit trees have been introduced in the Salalah plain during the last two decades for trial and many of them have been found well adapted to local conditions," said Professor Gamaleldin.
Fruits like grapes, avocado, sapota, bread fruit, egg fruit, jack fruit, passion fruit, star fruit, pitahaya, pineapple and star apple provide good opportunity to farmers to commercialise it, Prof Gamaleldin said.
They can fetch good money because they cannot be grown elsewhere in whole of the Gulf region.
The land here is fertile compared to neighbouring countries. The efforts of the Ministry of Agriculture are bearing the fruits, as fruits from Salalah are becoming popular in the GCC countries. Fruit trees occupy about 58 per cent of the total planted agricultural area in Oman, a major portion of them are located in Salalah.
"The desert are provides suitable climate for growing excellent date cultivars, as it is well practically demonstrated now in date palm planting in the area," said Prof Gamaleldin.
Prof Gamaleldin finds great potential for growing many varieties of exotic tropical and subtropical fruits in and around Salalah due to its unique climatic conditions. "Here we can grow many varieties of exotic tropical and subtropical fruits, which cannot be grown in any other part of the country or even in the Gulf region. This great advantage can possibly make Salalah plain the tropical fruit basket of the whole region."
He, however, suggests massive agricultural extension work supported by some other technical and financial efforts to make this dream true.
Commenting on the challenges of keeping the fruit plants healthy, Prof Gamaleldin said: "Fruit trees, in general, are not difficult to grow but some basics should be followed to achieve success. Trees planted in the suitable soil type should be provided with right balance of water, nutrients, sunlight and ventilation."
Source: zawya.com
