Beyond food security

MUSCAT: As Oman prepares to celebrate 54th National Day, it is time to take stock of the state of food security. Oman no doubt made rapid strides in scaling up agriculture and fisheries output. The aim is now is to export more by scaling up produce and fish landing.

Towards this end, the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Water Resources (MoAFWR) is launching many projects and beefing up supply in the Sultanate of Oman. This includes the development of infrastructure and services for agricultural and fisheries markets, as well as the establishment of an integrated management system to ensure operational efficiency. The ministry is also working on drafting the necessary regulations and legislation to organise marketing operations while maintaining the safety and quality of products.

The ministry has announced significant progress in fisheries marketing activities in Oman, with the number of existing fish processing factories reaching 119, reflecting steady growth in this vital sector. Additionally, the ministry recorded 62 operational fish markets, while the number of fish retail shops in Oman reached 1,009 by the end of last year.

As part of efforts to enhance market efficiency, the number of permits for fish carrier entry to the central wholesale fish market increased to 489. Furthermore, the total number of licenses for trading live aquatic resources in the central wholesale market rose to 915, reflecting an increase in commercial activity in this field. The total number of fish seller licenses also grew to 905, compared to 753 licenses in the previous year.

To enhance the fish processing sector and provide high-quality products that meet both local and international market demands, there has been growth in fish processing activities through the end of October 2024. The total number of fish processing and freezing factories reached 94, in addition to 8 floating fish processing and freezing factories.

New projects in the field of fish canning have been introduced, bringing the total number of canning factories to 3. Additionally, a factory for preparing ready-to-cook and ready-to-eat products such as fish burgers, pickled fish, and salted fish has been established. A factory for drying and smoking fish using modern methods, as well as a factory for refining fish oil for human consumption, has also been set up.

The ministry has reported significant progress in the construction of new and qualified fish markets across Oman’s governorates, with a total of 16 markets. These projects aim to enhance the marketing of fish products and provide a suitable environment for buying and selling, as well as strengthening the local market’s ability to meet consumer demands. The Ministry’s goal is to create integrated work environments that facilitate the movement of fish products and help producers market their goods, thereby contributing to the local economy and increasing job opportunities in the sector.

The Ministry has stated that it is working to achieve a balance between supply and demand in local and international markets. The focus is on opening new markets and registering Omani companies to export fish and agricultural products to regional and international markets.

In 2024, the Ministry organised several local exhibitions and marketing programmes. These activities included the fisheries marketing programme, developed annually in collaboration with fish marketing companies, aimed at providing fish during the summer when supply may be limited due to climate conditions. This is achieved by implementing a marketing plan for fish markets across all governorates of Oman.

Among the key exhibitions is the Agro Oman exhibition, scheduled from December 4 to 6, which will showcase the latest food products, agricultural and marine equipment, as well as greenhouse technologies, hydroponics, and modern irrigation systems. The Ministry also organised a date exhibition before the holy month of Ramadhan, from March 8–10, 2024.