Wheat production in Oman to surpass 7,700 tonnes for the 2024-2025 season
Despite the reduced acreage, wheat remains a strategic crop for national food security in Oman
OMAN – Wheat production in Oman is projected to surpass 7,700 tonnes for the 2024-2025 season, as farmers across key agricultural regions, including Dhofar, Dhahirah, Dakhliyah, and Buraimi, begin harvesting operations.
While the overall cultivated area has declined in some regions due to crop diversification, government-backed support programs and improved farming practices are helping sustain strong yields.
The Dhofar governorate, particularly the Najd region, is expected to lead national output with up to 6,000 tonnes of wheat harvested from around 6,400 acres across 52 farms. This marks a reduction from 7,600 acres last season, a shift attributed to farmers transitioning toward water-efficient, faster-maturing crops such as onions, tomatoes, garlic, and fodder.
“Farmers are responding to changing environmental and market conditions by diversifying their crop portfolios,” explained Fael Mohammed al Jahfali, Director General of Agriculture, Fisheries and Water Resources in Dhofar.
Despite the reduced acreage, he stressed that wheat remains a strategic crop for national food security, especially given the Najd area’s ample cultivable land and accessible groundwater.
To support this season’s crop, the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Water Resources, in partnership with the Agricultural and Fisheries Development Fund, distributed 30 tonnes of subsidised wheat seeds (at 50%), and provided free harvesting machinery.
Collection is being managed by Oman Flour Mills Company, ensuring efficient post-harvest logistics.
In Dhahirah, 1,350 acres were allocated for wheat cultivation through usufruct agreements tied to food security initiatives.
This season, 250 acres have been cultivated, with production expected to reach 1,000 tonnes. According to Salem bin Musabah al Kalbani, Director of the Agricultural Development Department, farmers have received not only subsidised seeds but also access to modern irrigation technologies and technical support.
In Dakhliyah, harvesting is underway in Adam, where 106 acres were planted this season, expected to yield 120 tonnes—a notable increase from 72 tonnes the previous year.
The crop’s low water requirements and high nutritional value make it a popular choice, said Saeed bin Hamad al Raqmi, Head of the Agricultural Development and Water Resources Section.
Buraimi has also joined the harvest, with more than 200 acres under wheat cultivation and an output projection of over 250 tonnes. Farmers there received more than seven tonnes of high-quality seeds, said Nasser bin Ali al Marshoudi, Director General of Agriculture and Water Resources.
Despite a modest contraction in total wheat acreage, the integration of modern farming support, state subsidies, and market infrastructure continues to position wheat as a key component of Oman’s food security strategy.
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