The villages located on the slopes of the Hajar Mountains are famous for the cultivation of a number of seasonal crops, the most important of which are grapes, mountain pomegranates and apricots. This time of the year, the farmers of these mountain villages begin to harvest the fruits and market their farm produce in various traditional markets.
"Grape cultivation requires special effort and care by irrigating regularly, fertilising, and pruning the branches from time to time," the farmers say.
During these days, the crop is offered at auction in the markets of the wilayats of Nakhl, Rustaq and Nizwa, and the grapes are also sold to tourists who frequent these villages during the holidays.
The grape harvest season activates economic activity and boosts trade in the Omani markets with the supply of various agricultural products.
Grapes are widely cultivated in high altitude areas and villages because they need moderate and cool climate during their growth. Therefore, it is easy for farmers in mountainous areas to grow many varieties of fruits that cannot or are difficult to grow in dry or hot areas. It is this feature that characterises the mountainous villages in Oman.
In irrigating vineyards, farmers depend on the falaj system, where they are keen to store rainwater and use the flowing falaj water to irrigate their farms throughout the year. Omanis have been keen on building dozens of water channels in the mountainous terrains to be able to carry water to great distances.
The farmers highlighted the necessity of allocating large areas for the cultivation of grapes, and they stressed the importance of providing high quality fertilisers in large quantities.
For the cultivation grapes, farmers place wooden poles and ceilings in the form of squares, ensuring that the grapevine climbs in a position commensurate with its nature, thus making it easier for farmers to reap the grapes that hang from the roofs of these wooden poles.
The farmers affirm that the grape has health benefits, the most important of which are: it reduces incidence of cancers, heart and arterial diseases, besides diabetes, which are common in Oman.
The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Water Resources has adopted a project to develop grape cultivation and production in the country with the aim of expanding the cultivated areas using modern irrigation system methods, and urging farmers to market the produce using modern methods.
The project aims to develop the grape cultivation and increase its productivity in various governorates, and to train and qualify a number of farmers on how to use modern technologies to grow, produce, harvest and market grapes. This project also aims to establish specialised farms for the cultivation and production of high-yielding varieties of grapes, in addition to establishing genetic banks for grape varieties for the purpose of future propagation and research.
TEXT & PHOTOS BY YAHYA AL SALMANI
Oman Observer is now on the WhatsApp channel. Click here
