Oman water demand: 85% goes to agriculture

SALALAH, AUG 30
Agriculture and green areas account for around 85 per cent of water demand in Oman, placing agricultural efficiency at the centre of efforts to protect the country’s groundwater resources, a water specialist said on Sunday.
Eng Hamad bin Khamis Al Hatmi, a member of the Oman Water Society, said groundwater levels were declining while coastal aquifers faced deteriorating water quality due to seawater intrusion.
Speaking at the Water Resources Sustainability: Water and Climate Change symposium in Salalah, he said municipal use represented about 15 per cent of overall demand. His presentation cited a 2024 water-balance deficit of about 213 million cubic metres and highlighted low agricultural productivity per cubic metre of water as one of the sector’s main challenges.
Official 2024 statistics show that 92 main desalination plants produced 455.36 million cubic metres of water, while 67 treatment plants produced about 119.5 million cubic metres of treated water.
Al Hatmi said modern irrigation systems were still not widely used across significant agricultural areas, while some farming activity did not generate sufficient economic value relative to the water consumed. Population growth and urban expansion are adding to demand, while the presentation also pointed to declining participation of the national workforce in agriculture and, in some cases, limited awareness of water scarcity among workers.
The recommendations called for traditional agriculture to be transformed into more economically viable production through research and modern technology, with greater emphasis on maximising the value generated by each cubic metre of water.
Al Hatmi also said water availability should be considered when new water-consuming activities are established, including industrial, tourism, sporting and recreational projects. The presentation recommended redistributing activities in line with the availability of water sources.
Other proposals included integrated management of water catchments, dedicated committees to oversee implementation, further research and innovation in non-conventional water sources, and better use of non-renewable aquifers to extend their operating life.
The two-day symposium concludes on August 31 and is organised by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Water Resources with Dhofar Municipality, Nama Dhofar Services and partner organisations including UNESCO and the Oman Water Society.