SALALAH: Tourists and visitors to Dhofar Governorate are keen to visit kiosks selling local fruits and vegetables spread across various neighbourhoods and suburbs of Salalah, especially during the autumn season.
They flock to these kiosks to drink coconut water ('mashli', as it is locally called) and buy quantities of coconut fruits and tropical delights such as bananas and papaya, which the governorate is renowned for.
The seasonal climatic conditions that characterise Dhofar Governorate, and Salalah Plain in particular, provide a bounty of diverse crops year-round. Coconut, at the forefront of these agricultural products, occupies the largest cultivated area in the Salalah Plain.
Among the most distinctive agricultural products of Dhofar Governorate are coconuts (locally known as mashli), bananas, lemons, guavas, papayas, tomatoes, zucchini, and other fruits and vegetables.
These are displayed in seasonal fruit kiosks, attracting visitors and residents of Salalah, especially in autumn. They prefer to buy fresh fruits picked from trees along the roads that cut through the orchards and farms.
The agricultural plain stretches from the east to the west of Salalah and includes fertile orchards filled with various fruit trees and seasonal vegetables. The climatic conditions of Dhofar particularly the tropical weather, favour the proliferation of coconut trees, which decorate the streets of the governorate and create beautiful natural scenery.
Salalah agricultural plain is also characterised by the abundance of other agricultural crops, including papaya and bananas. These crops require suitable environmental and climatic conditions typical of tropical and semi-tropical regions with a moderate and humid climate. Their cultivation significantly supports the productivity of the agricultural sector in Oman, a vital productive sector.
Bananas, one of the most important economic and food crops in the governorate, are extensively cultivated in Salalah Plain due to the favourable climatic and environmental conditions.
The papaya tree, another significant crop, is evergreen and fast-growing, producing high-quality fruit varieties. Autumn is the best season for planting and cultivating papaya, which boasts numerous health and nutritional benefits.
Notably, the Salalah Agricultural Plain produces various other agricultural products and crops that contribute to food security. Additionally, it aids in the marketing and export of some agricultural products both within and outside the Sultanate of Oman. These products include lemons, guava, papaya, tomatoes, zucchini, sugar cane, pomegranate, berries, avocado, custard apple (locally called mustafel), corn, peppers, cucumbers, eggplant, watercress, lettuce, sweet potatoes, and legumes. - ONA
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