Agriculture ministry takes initiatives to improve production of dates in Oman

Muscat: The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Water Resources is implementing a number of programmes and initiatives aimed at improving the quality of production of dates and maximize the economic value of date palms crop.

The Ministry is boosting this drive by supporting applied research in post-harvest activities, assessing technologies of the drying of dates and imparting modern practices to farmers.

The Ministry is laying emphasis on the adoption of technologies that minimize post-harvest losses, improve product quality and enhance competitiveness. This supports the Sultanate of Oman’s strategic approach to food security and industries linked to agricultural products.

In pursuance of this approach, researchers at the Ministry recently conducted experiments on the drying of dates through the use of the “polycarbonate-covered chamber” technique.

This modern technique proved its high efficiency, compared to traditional open-air drying methods. The new technique maintains fruit cleanliness and protects the dates from insects—thus ensuring the market value of the crop.