Muscat: Funded by the Agricultural and Fisheries Development Fund (AFDF), implementation of the second phase of settling turmeric cultivation project is going on in Dhofar Governorate.
Spanning over a period of three years, the project, worth RO 50,000, targets four wilayats, including Salalah, Taqah, Dhalkut and Rakhyut.
Meanwhile, harvest for the first stage resulted in production of about 6 tonnes of fresh organic turmeric on an area estimated at 1.4 acres.
In a statement, Eng Radwan bin Abdullah al Ibrahim, Director of the Agricultural Development Department in Dhofar, said choosing Dhofar Governorate to run such a project is driven by the fact that the seasonal agriculture represents a crucial part of the economic income.
Some of the prominent seasonal crops cultivated in the governorate is cowpea, locally called’ Dajar’, white corn, and maize ‘Mahindo’. Lemon trees, papaya , sugar cane, and some vegetables are also grown for daily consumption.
Additionally, some citizens have recently rolled out some initiatives for cultivating some distinctive crops, prompting necessary support for better productivity, and, consequently, maximizing the economic revenues. Among the most notable crops grown in these areas are green apples, berries, cherry, and turmeric. It is hoped to develop crops such as: cardamom, mushrooms, strawberries, saffron, ginger, and grapes.
Stretching over an area of 17,500 m2, the second phase is projected to produce 25 tonnes, with sales volume to reach RO 37,000 to 55 beneficiaries.
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