Thursday, March 28, 2024 | Ramadan 17, 1445 H
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EDITOR IN CHIEF- ABDULLAH BIN SALIM AL SHUEILI

Bountiful valley

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NAKHL: Farmers in these days in Wadi Mastal in the Wilayat of Nakhl in the Governorate of South Al Batinah, are harvesting the fruits of apricot trees and mountain berries in the various villages of the valley that host various types of agricultural crop, whether in the mountains or the green oases that are frequented by tourists and visitors. Al Qoura Village is one of the villages in Wadi Mastal, in addition to a number of other villages, such as Al Hajjar, Wakan, Misfat Al Qoura, Al Shis, Al Aqar, Haddish, Al Khadad, Al Khadra, Ardh Al Shawaa, Al Misfat and Al Dhahir, all of which are archaeological and agricultural villages in Wadi Mastal, in the Wilayat of Nakhl, where villagers work in seasonal agriculture.


Wahab bin Zahran al Riyami, a villager from Al Qoura said that the village has a number of seasonal crops, such as: grapes, garlic, pomegranates, apricots, figs, bergamot orange, peaches, and berries, and is watered by Falaj Al Aqar, Falaj Al Mafra, and Falaj Al Wasta’a, which start at the top of the mountain.


About apricot harvesting Al Riyami said, “The season started this year with the appearance of apricot flowers in mid-March and was completed and was harvested in mid-April and lasts only for two weeks. It is marketed in the Souq of Nakhl and other neighbouring markets in the Governorate of South Al Batinah. On the first day of the crop the price of one kilogram could reach RO 17, and gradually decreases with the increase of supply to about RO 5.

As for the mountain berries, the harvest season starts in April of each year and lasts for about two months. The price of a pail (about 6 kg) starts at about RO 50. After the increase of supply and availability of it in the market it goes down to RO 20. The harvesting of mountain berries starts at dawn until the afternoon.


Rauf bin Mohammed al Hadhrami, a resident of the Wilayat of Nakhl, said, “This season could be better exploited to attract tourists and customers, especially if it is marketed and promoted widely in the Gulf and the region.”


He added that crop seasons are more concentrated in the summer, which starts from April to August, the time to harvest the fruits of apricots, berries, grapes, bergamot orange and pomegranate. The winter season, which starts from December to February, is the harvest of the green bean, which is sold in the market of the wilaya.


The residents of Wadi Mastal villages in the Wilayat of Nakhl, especially the village of Wakan and Al Qoura Village, pay attention to these crops, especially with the beginning of apricot fruits, where these crops are sold in the market of the wilaya almost daily from early morning.

The green hills in the Wilayat of Nakhl, where many rare wild plants grow on the ranges adjacent to Al Jabal Al Akhdhar on the one hand, lie behind the Samayil mountain ranges in the Governorate of Al Dakhiliyah, which is a point of convergence between the rocky canyons of the West Hajar mountain ranges.


Al Riyami added that the Village of Wakan is one of the beautiful tourist villages that tourists visit throughout the year. It is registered with the Ministry of Tourism as a tourist station in the Governorate of South Al Batinah and receives a large number of visitors daily. — ONA


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