Agriculture & Fisheries

Targeted investment has seen Oman’s agriculture and fisheries sector make advances as the government seeks ways to sustain a growing population and foster a more diverse economy. According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, in 2016 production rose by 4.3% for agriculture and 8.7% for fisheries to 1.87m and 280,000 tonnes, respectively. Production is estimated to increase further given ongoing state support in areas ranging from dairy and aquaculture, to livestock and produce. Although Oman is in a strategic location between the vast markets of Europe and Asia, it is constrained in the types of products it can easily make commercially viable due to its arid climate, soil salinity and water scarcity. Still, the sultanate forges ahead with development plans by leveraging technology to open up new pathways to growth and self-sufficiency. This chapter contains an interview with Fuad bin Jaafar bin Mohammed Al Sajwani, Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries Wealth.