Wednesday 22 / January / 2025
Jabal Al Akhdar: The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Water Resources has successfully grown blueberry trees in the Wilayat of Jabal Al Akhdar in Al Dakhiliyah Governorate.
This initiative is part of the ministry’s efforts for investment in agricultural crops of economic value, mainly in the cold mountainous areas.
The blueberry trees are being grown on an area of 1,000 sq. metres and the fruits of each plant ranges between 3 kilograms to 5 kilograms.
Engineer Mohannad bin Al Khatab Al Hinai, owner of the blueberry trees, said that the project includes some 500 plants of blueberry of four different species of Southern Highbush brought from the Republic of Georgia as the first trial project under the supervision of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Water Resources. This type of blueberry trees requires between 200 to 400 cold hours ( the hours
wherein the temperature is less than 7 °C) which makes Al Jabal Al Akhdar suitable in terms of climate.
He said the fruits picking season starts from May to end of June every year and the tree is grown on a soil with hydrogen number of 4.5 to 5.5. He said that the project follows sustainable practices and methods including modern methods of irrigation and periodical spray on the leaves of the plant with liquefied organic fertilizer.
The project contributes to diversification of crops and boosting the sustainable agricultural systems, he said, adding that the project provides the citizens and visitors of the wilayat with the opportunity of picking the fruits of blueberry.
Dr. Masaud bin Sulaiman Al Azri, Director General of Agricultural and Fisheries Marketing at the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Water Resources, said that the ministry directly contributes to minimising the challenges facing investors and farmers besides its contribution in improvement of the productivity of plants. The ministry also offers guidance and agricultural services through the research centres and guidance departments.
