Clover seed trade banned to protect alfalfa crops: Ministry

Muscat: Trade in clover seeds has been banned to protect alfalfa crops, a ministry statement has clarified. The Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries posted a clarification of the Ministerial Decision which banned the use of clover seeds (Trifolium Alexandrium L).
In the clarification, they have explained that clover has been banned to protect the growth of alfalfa crops. “The alfalfa (Medicago Setiva) has a purple coloured flower, and is a known plant by Omanis. It has historically been planted in Oman, and can live for over ten years if it is taken care of.”
“The clover ( Trifolium Alexandrium L) has a white flower, and does not last longer than two years on the ground with proper care.”
The Ministry had noted in the last few years that many recently planted alfalfa crops would die after a year or two, causing huge losses to farmers.
“After field supervision and follow up, we noticed a mix between the planted seeds. Farmers would buy the seeds from untrustworthy sources, who would mix alfalfa and clover seeds and sell them as alfalfa seeds, as the two are hard to differentiate.”
“The trade of clover seeds has been banned in order to protect alfalfa crops, and lessen the losses suffered by crop farmers,” the Ministry said. The decision had banned the production, import, export, transfer, sale, resale, purchase, distribution, storage, packaging, preparation, and processing of clover seeds.
“Companies and companies shall dispose of their existing quantities of seeds referred to in Article 1 of this resolution by exporting or destroying them within a period not exceeding six months from the date of implementation of this decision,” the decision added.
Any person who violates the provisions of this Decision shall be liable to a fine of no less than OMR500, and no more than OMR100,000.