Oman's pesticide regulations causing fruit & veg shortage
Despite the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries stating that there is a sufficient supply in the Mawaleh Central Market, with around 39 trucks of supplies being unloaded on Monday, dealers at the market said there was a shortage because of the difficulty in importing produce from the UAE.
On condition of anonymity, an official from a large import firm said, “While some produce is grown locally, and some flown or shipped in, the vast majority of it still comes by road from Dubai. Prices have been going up due to the new regulation that seeks a residue analysis certificate to be produced at the border.”
Another trader at Mawaleh market agrees. “Prices have been fluctuating in the last few days. The price of some items like Romaine lettuce has more than tripled, but as shipments arrive, the law of supply and demand takes hold, and prices drop accordingly.”
source: muscatdaily.com
