Plan afoot to boost wheat production in Oman

Muscat: To attain self-sufficiency in food production, the Agricultural and Fisheries Development Fund (AFDF) has financed a number of projects.
The aim is to expand wheat cultivation area so that the Sultanate does not need to depend on import of this food grain.
The Agricultural and Fisheries Development Fund also seeks to support, guide and train farmers in wheat cultivation, and provide them with high quality seeds to boost production.
In addition to basic requirements, the farmers would also be given basic farm machinery and equipment. The project will encourage Omani farmers to use modern techniques in agricultural operations. They will be advised to use machines for sowing and harvesting of crops.
It is hoped that more than 4,000 farmers will benefit from the project. Focus will be on growing of local varieties, high-yielding varieties and new varieties that have been produced and bred by the agricultural research stations.