The Ministry of Agricultural Wealth, Fisheries and Water Resources signs an agreement to implement the smart agriculture project to produce 2,400 tons of vegetables at an investment cost of OMR 6.5 million.  

The Ministry, on Wednesday, signed an agreement to lease a plot of land with an area of 100 acres with the Agricultural and Fisheries Development Company to invest and implement the smart agriculture project in the Wilayat of Al Kamil and Al Wafi.

The project, whose investment cost is estimated at OMR 6.5 million , aims to increase the productivity of a variety of vegetable crops, extending their production seasons, and raising the quality and safety of local production.

This agreement comes within the framework of joint cooperation between the public and private sectors and the directions of Oman 2040 vision to stimulate investment, especially in the agricultural and animal fields, to achieve local food security and creating job opportunities for citizens.

The project focuses on introducing advanced technologies in the agricultural sector and raising the efficiency of use agricultural resources and inputs for vegetable production.

The project will serve Omani youth who are investing in the integrated agriculture project in wilayat of Al Kamil and Al Wafi, which was adopted by the Ministry during the last period in terms of saving electricity and water services, and providing technical and marketing assistance to achieve agricultural production.

The project consists of greenhouses, deceptive houses, cultivation techniques without soil, open field farming techniques, mechanization, modern irrigation networks, wireless agricultural meteorological station, warehouses, production sorting and processing facilities, and other facilities.

The project seeks to cultivate varieties of vegetables, as an area of 150,000 square meters will be allocated for winter cultivation of various crops, which will focus on new varieties such as cherry tomatoes, sweet peppers and other varieties of different colors and are in demand in the domestic and foreign market.

The agreement was signed by Dr. Saud bin Hamoud Al Habsi, Minister of Wealth, Agricultural, Fisheries and Water Resources on the part of the company, Abdullah bin Muhammad Al-Siyabi, general manager of the company.

SOURCE: TIMESOFOMAN