People eagerly await Jabal Al Akhdhar pomegranate harvest

Oman Saturday 03/September/2016 19:57 PM
By: Times News Service
People eagerly await Jabal Al Akhdhar pomegranate harvest

Jabal Al Akhdhar: Jabal Al Akhdhar in the Governorate of A’Dakhiliyah is famous for its climate, which is very similar to the Mediterranean basin.
The area is known for its unique plants and fruits, such as high-quality pomegranate, rose water, olives, nuts, almonds, apricot, beach, pears, plums, fig, grapes, lemon and Al Boot.
These days, especially from the last quarter of August until the end of September, with the peak being mid-September, locals in Jabal Al Akhdhar prepare to harvest pomegranate.
There are about 27,000 trees in different villages producing about 645 tonnes of pomegranate. It is the main crop in terms of the planted area in income for Jabal Al Akhdar residents.
Omani farmers start caring for the tree from January and in May they irrigate it between five and seven times until the end of September.
Irrigation is discontinued from mid-November until the end of January to give the tree the opportunity to rejuvenate for the next season.
Salim bin Rashid Al Toobi, director of Agriculture Development in Jabal Al Akhdhar, said pomegranate is very commonly grown in Wadi Bani Habib, Saiq, Al Sharija, Al Ayeena, Al Aqr, Hail Al Yemen, Al Manakhir, Qutnah, Al Sograh and the Al Qasha’a villages.
Pomegranates are sold for OMR2 to 3 per kilogram or OMR0.5 to OMR3 for one fruit, depending on the size of the crop and demand.
The demand for Jabal Al Akhdhar pomegranate by tourists has been growing over the past year. During an interview with the Oman News Agency (ONA), Ibrahim Al Ali from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) said, “I am keen on buying Al Jabal Al Akhdhar pomegranate for my friends, my family and myself, owing to its high quality and unique taste.”