logo
MAFWR moves to boost honey industry

MAFWR moves to boost honey industry

Muscat Daily03-06-2025
Muscat – The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Water Resources (MAFWR) held a high-level meeting in Muscat on Tuesday to discuss the development of Oman's beekeeping sector and ways to increase the added value of locally produced honey.
The session was chaired by H E Dr Ahmed bin Nasser al Bakri, Undersecretary for Agricultural Resources in MAFWR, and attended by beekeepers, officials from honey export and import companies, and representatives from the ministry.
Participants reviewed key economic indicators, identified sector challenges, and discussed proposals to improve production and raise the quality of Omani honey for better competitiveness in both domestic and international markets.
H E Bakri described the beekeeping sector as an important part of national food security and a potential contributor to economic diversification. He called for stronger collaboration between the public and private sectors to ensure sustainability and implement best practices in honey production and marketing.
Omani honey, particularly Sidr and Samr varieties, is valued for its quality, attributed to the country's biodiversity and unique flora in the region.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Dhofar leads wheat production in 2024/2025 harvest, says Ministry
Dhofar leads wheat production in 2024/2025 harvest, says Ministry

Observer

timean hour ago

  • Observer

Dhofar leads wheat production in 2024/2025 harvest, says Ministry

Muscat: Wheat production across the Sultanate of Oman recorded a significant increase in the 2024/2025 season, reaching a total of 10,128.341 tonnes, according to statistics issued by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Water Resources. The overall cultivated area amounted to 8,327 acres, involving 2,183 farmers from various governorates. The Governorate of Dhofar led national production, contributing 7,723 tonnes, which represents more than 76 per cent of the total yield. The cultivated area in Dhofar spanned 6,400 acres, with 51 farmers participating in the harvest. Other notable contributors included the Governorate of al Dhahirah with 1,118 tonnes from 759 acres, al Dakhiliyah with 877.185 tonnes from 746 acres, and North al Sharqiyah, which produced 34.723 tonnes from 25.5 acres. In the Buraimi Governorate, 80 farmers cultivated 196 acres, yielding 268.7 tonnes. Despite smaller cultivation areas, several governorates reported strong yields, reflecting the Ministry's ongoing support initiatives. For instance, South al Batinah produced 17.424 tonnes from 98 acres, while North al Batinah registered 85.3 tonnes from 81 acres. In South al Sharqiyah, farmers harvested 2.264 tonnes from 16.5 acres. Meanwhile, the Ministry has launched a comprehensive national plan to support local wheat production. The initiative aims to: Enhance food security and contribute to Oman Vision 2040; Provide high-quality seeds to farmers; Offer financial, technical and advisory support; Assist during harvesting operations; Expand wheat cultivation across various governorates; Allocate agricultural land and develop wheat-based products. As part of the government's strategic focus, the ministry highlighted that Dhofar Governorate alone contributes 76–90 per cent of the total national wheat output. Additionally, the number of wheat farmers across the Sultanate increased by 14 per cent compared to the previous season, indicating growing interest in local grain cultivation. The ongoing support underscores the ministry's commitment to achieving sustainable agricultural development and bolstering the Sultanate's self-sufficiency in staple food crops.

OPAZ invites bids for phase one of Al Rawdah water drainage project
OPAZ invites bids for phase one of Al Rawdah water drainage project

Muscat Daily

time11 hours ago

  • Muscat Daily

OPAZ invites bids for phase one of Al Rawdah water drainage project

Muscat – The Public Authority for Special Economic Zones and Free Zones (OPAZ) announced the launch of a tender for the construction works of surface water drainage channels in the Al Rawdah Special Economic Zone. OPAZ has invited specialised companies to purchase tender documents and submit bids via the e-tendering platform 'Etimad', for the project to be implemented in the wilayat of Mahdah in Buraimi governorate. The tender coincides with the Ministry of Finance's signing of an agreement with the Arab Fund for Economic and Social Development (AFESD) to fund the first phase of the surface water drainage project in Al Rawdah Special Economic Zone. Yahya bin Khamis al Zadjali, planning advisor to the Chairman of OPAZ, stated that the project aims to provide essential protection for the zone, including safeguarding tourism, industrial, commercial, and agricultural facilities. The project will implement an integrated network of open channels and effective water barriers to control the flow of surface water resulting from rainfall across the lands designated for the SEZ. The tender includes the construction of an 850m barrier, a 25km long rainwater drainage channel, and associated excavation, backfilling, grading, and other works necessary to support the zone's economic and social goals, Zadjali added. The drainage network will be precise enough to withstand exceptional weather conditions. Strategically located in the wilayat of Mahdah, Al Rawdah SEZ serves as a key logistics gateway between the Sultanate of Oman and the United Arab Emirates. The zone is connected to Suhar and Jebel Ali ports, enabling logistics providers, manufacturers, and commercial businesses to access GCC, Asian and African markets efficiently and cost-effectively. In May, OPAZ signed an agreement with Mahdah Development Company to develop and operate the first phase of the SEZ over an area of 14sqkm. The total planned area of the zone is approximately 56.8sqkm. The first phase focuses on attracting investment in a range of sectors, including manufacturing, logistics, warehousing, pharmaceuticals, plastics, mining, food industries, and safety and security services. Through the development of Al Rawdah SEZ, OPAZ aims to capitalise on the comparative and competitive advantages of Oman's various governorates, thereby contributing to economic and social development, creating employment opportunities for Omani youth, and stimulating key economic sectors. The establishment of the SEZ aligns with the authority's broader strategy to support Oman Vision 2040, particularly in the areas of economic diversification, fiscal sustainability, labour market development, private sector growth, foreign investment, international cooperation, and sustainable urban and regional development.

World Bank appoints new country manager for Oman
World Bank appoints new country manager for Oman

Muscat Daily

time11 hours ago

  • Muscat Daily

World Bank appoints new country manager for Oman

Muscat – The World Bank Group (WBG) announced today the appointment of Wendy Werner as the first Country Manager of the World Bank Group in the Sultanate of Oman, based in Muscat. 'This underscores the World Bank Group's commitment to the partnership with Oman and support its 'Vision 2040',' the World Bank stated. 'A new WBG office in Muscat will deepen our engagement in response to development challenges, and national priorities with speed, efficiency, and impact.' Most recently, Wendy was the Country Head for the International Finance Corporation (IFC) in India and the Maldives, overseeing IFC's largest country portfolio. With over two decades of experience across emerging and frontier markets, she has led transformative investments in climate finance, gender inclusion, and sustainable infrastructure including impactful projects such as building India's electric vehicle ecosystem, developing renewable energy supply and infrastructure, scaling green finance and embedding sustainability in manufacturing. 'I am honoured to take on the responsibility as the first World Bank Group's Country Manager for The Sultanate of Oman and bring together our forces to increase the impact we deliver in Oman and beyond,' said Wendy. 'I look forward to working closely with Oman's public and the private sector to address the country's key priorities, including building economic resilience, enhancing access to sustainable finance for Small and Medium Enterprises, and fostering private sector development both within and outside the country.' The World Bank has been providing advisory services to the Government of Oman in support of its development goals, with a focus on strengthening human capital, diversifying the economy, and enhancing the development of the private sector. IFC, a member of the World Bank Group focused on the private sector in emerging markets, has invested and mobilised US$780mn in Oman across 16 projects. IFC offers tailored financial and advisory solutions to Omani companies looking to attract investments, grow, and expand to new markets in developing countries. IFC also aims to bolster the country's sustainable finance market. IFC's latest investments include US$120mn investment in NFC, Oman's leading finance company, which is expected to enhance access to sustainable finance for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) involved in clean transport, renewable energy, and resource efficiency, as well as a US$200mn sustainability loan to Sohar International Bank to support the bank on-lending to sustainable and green projects MIGA, home of the World Bank Group Guarantee Platform, supported US$1.7bn in commercial financing of the infrastructure works for the Duqm Special Economic Zone. The project contributes to expanding the logistics sector and Oman export capacity, a key pillar of Oman Vision 2040 aimed at economic diversification.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store