Monday 11 / May / 2026
Muscat: The Shura Council concluded on Monday its discussion of the statement delivered by Dr. Saud Hamoud Al Habsi, Minister of Agricultural, Fisheries Wealth and Water Resources, which continued over two consecutive days during the Council’s 18th and 19th regular sessions of the Third Annual Sitting (2025–2026) of the Tenth Term (2023–2027).
The sessions were chaired by Khalid Hilal Al Maawali, Chairman of the Council, in the presence of Their Excellencies Council members and Ahmed Mohammed Al Nadabi, Secretary-General of the Shura Council.
During the 19th session, members of the Council continued discussing the ministerial statement and raised a number of observations focusing on various challenges and issues related to the agriculture, livestock, fisheries, and water resources sectors in the Sultanate of Oman. Discussions also addressed ways to enhance food security, achieve sustainability, and support farmers, fishermen, and livestock breeders in line with the objectives of Oman Vision 2040.
Council members stressed the importance of reviewing the requirements related to agricultural tariffs and services provided to farmers, noting the difficulties faced by farm owners regarding procedures linked to periodic endorsement letters, as well as the burdensome measures imposed on small farms that do not correspond to their size and nature. Members also emphasised the need to support national agricultural crops, expand lemon cultivation, and combat diseases and pests affecting Omani mango and quince trees.
They underscored the importance of implementing effective and sustainable solutions to protect these crops, in addition to supporting farmers in marketing and providing the agricultural inputs necessary to boost local production. Furthermore, members called for the reinstatement of agricultural subsidies that had previously been provided regularly, noting that their suspension had negatively affected small-scale farmers and local production levels.
Interventions also addressed ongoing issues related to the regulation of agricultural lands following the transfer of the file to the Ministry of Housing and Urban Planning, which resulted in procedural delays and confusion among beneficiaries and employees, particularly regarding land sketches and electricity services. Members called for a more integrated and efficient mechanism to address these challenges.
On agricultural oversight, members questioned the reasons behind the absence of agricultural inspectors with judicial enforcement authority to conduct unannounced field visits to farms, ensure the safe use of pesticides and fertilizers, monitor violations, and refer them to the competent authorities, thereby safeguarding consumers and maintaining the quality of agricultural products.
In the same context, members noted that while market products are subject to inspection, some products are transferred directly from farms to markets without undergoing full inspection and monitoring procedures. This, they stressed, requires stronger direct field supervision at production sites to ensure product safety, quality, and consumer protection.
Members also emphasised the importance of supporting the aflaj irrigation system by allocating investment lands to help sustain maintenance activities, especially during adverse weather conditions and exceptional circumstances. They further called for a clear plan to establish an insurance system against risks in the agriculture, fisheries, and water resources sectors.
The members called for reassessing the allocations of dam projects estimated at around OMR300 million, stressing that the postponement of several projects between five-year development plans had negatively affected implementation despite the urgent need for such projects amid recurring extreme weather conditions. They highlighted the importance of these projects in strengthening water security and protecting against flood risks.
In the fisheries sector, members called for the establishment of a fish processing factory to support fishermen and enhance the added value of fisheries products, contributing to reducing the export of raw products outside the Sultanate of Oman. They also called for the establishment of agricultural marketing centres and laboratories for testing agricultural products to ease burdens on farmers and improve product quality and marketing.
Regarding the livestock sector, members questioned the ministry’s plans to achieve food security in light of rising feed prices and weak market regulation, calling for proactive solutions for breeders. They also stressed the ministry’s direct responsibility in providing designated grazing lands rather than referring the matter to other entities.
Discussions further addressed challenges facing the fisheries sector, including violations related to subleasing fishing vessels, illegal fishing, and the use of advanced processing and freezing equipment on board some vessels at sea without supplying products to local markets, negatively affecting both the local market and fisheries resources. Members also called for abolishing the requirement linking artisanal fishing vessels to commercial registration records in order to reduce regulatory and administrative burdens on fishermen.
In terms of infrastructure and services, members demanded the establishment of central markets and fruit, vegetable, and meat markets in several wilayats across the Sultanate of Oman, emphasising the growing need for such essential services, alongside the importance of developing marketing infrastructure related to the agricultural and fisheries sectors.
Members also presented several proposals related to the sustainability of water resources and the enhancement of food security, including the utilisation of treated wastewater in cultivating fodder and grasses instead of wasting it, thereby reducing reliance on imports and strengthening local production.
The members discussion, explored the possibility of utilising agricultural lands outside the Sultanate of Oman through leasing or foreign investment to secure fodder, meat, and essential food supplies at reasonable prices. They inquired whether the ministry had adopted such initiatives within its future plans.
In the field of technological transformation, Council members asked about the ministry’s progress in employing artificial intelligence and modern technologies in water resource management, pest control, and improving agricultural productivity, as well as the ministry’s plan to transition from traditional methods to advanced digital systems that keep pace with global developments in this vital sector.
At the conclusion of the discussion on the ministerial statement, Council members praised the efforts exerted by the Ministry of Agricultural, Fisheries Wealth and Water Resources in serving the agriculture, fisheries, and livestock sectors, emphasising the importance of these sectors as key economic drivers that strengthen food security and provide extensive employment opportunities for citizens. They expressed hope that the ministry would take into consideration the proposals and views presented by members over the two-day discussions in a manner that supports the achievement of Oman Vision 2040.
The Council will hold its 20th regular session on Tuesday, which will be dedicated to discussing the draft Unified Law (Regulation) on the Management of Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture for the GCC States. The session will also discuss a number of economic agreements referred by the Council of Ministers, in addition to several proposals studied by the Council’s permanent committees.
