Oman plans $1bn in food self-sufficiency projects this year

Oman is targeting 400 food projects with investments of OMR400 million ($1 billion) in 2026, the first year of the country’s 11th five-year plan, a government official has said.

These include 200 projects in the plant and livestock sectors, with investments of OMR200 million, the state-run Oman News Agency reported, citing Dr Ahmed bin Nasser Al Bakri, undersecretary of the ministry of agriculture, fisheries and water resources.

The ministry has so far offered 219 investment projects across various fields, including plants, livestock, fisheries and the aquatic food security sector.

“Steps are underway to complete the floating of all 400 investment opportunities before the end of 2026,” he said.

The sultanate implemented 493 food security projects worth OMR1.9 billion during the 10th five-year plan (2021-2025).

A total of 399 projects were in the agriculture sector, with investments totaling OMR 806 million, Al Bakri said.

Self-sufficiency in fisheries reached 146 percent, with fish products exported to about 60 countries, while self-sufficiency in dates reached 99 percent, with products exported to 20 countries, the government official said.

Self-sufficiency in vegetable crops reached 77 percent, said Al Bakri, adding that local products are exported to GCC states, Europe and Japan.

He said that the current rate of self-sufficiency in red meat stands at 45 percent, with efforts underway to increase it through a joint venture between the state-owned Oman Investment Authority and Brazil’s JBS.

The two companies signed a $150 million agreement in February to set up poultry and red meat processing units to accelerate the sultanate’s food security plans. 

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