AL JABAL AL AKHDHAR: The completion rate of the project to enhance the value-added of the rose crop in the Wilayat of Al Jabal Al Akhdhar (the Green Mountain), Al Dakhiliyah Governorate, has exceeded 65 per cent. The project, which costs RO 150,000, is set to be completed by the end of 2026.
The project is being implemented by the Agricultural and Fisheries Development Fund in cooperation with the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Water Resources. It aims to prepare a study providing primary data on rose cultivation and its associated industries in Al Jabal Al Akhdhar, as well as to establish a partnership with a small and medium enterprise (SME) involved in rose-related industries in the wilayat.
Furthermore, the project aims to support the cultivation of an additional five acres of local roses in Al Jabal Al Akhdhar, introduce agricultural mechanisation, and improve certain agricultural practices by 50 per cent. It also involves conducting training courses for rural women related to manufacturing rose water products, including soaps, lotions and cosmetics.
Hanan bint Said al Sulaimi, Executive Director of the Agricultural and Fisheries Development Fund, stated in a statement to Oman News Agency that 120 farmers from the Wilayat of Al Jabal Al Akhdhar are participating in the project.
She pointed out that it will contribute to raising the economic value of the rose crop by improving production quality and increasing quantities. It also focuses on developing associated manufacturing industries, such as rose water and cosmetics, alongside empowering farmers and rural women, creating additional income opportunities, and enhancing the presence of the Omani product in local markets, with the potential for future export, thereby supporting sustainable development in Al Jabal Al Akhdhar.
She added that the project to enhance the value-added of the rose crop in Al Jabal Al Akhdhar offers a comprehensive support package for farmers. This includes providing them with small manual tillers equipped with accessories suitable for the topography of Al Jabal Al Akhdhar, in addition to rehabilitating agricultural terraces and providing free seedlings for planting rose bushes, which contributes to boosting production and improving crop quality.
Al Sulaimi clarified that the support extends to empowering SMEs interested in manufacturing and marketing rose products by providing machines for extracting rose oil and attar, thereby enhancing the value-added of the local product and supporting its sustainability.
The executive director indicated that the project naturally spans several phases. During the remaining implementation period, efforts will build upon what has been achieved by expanding rose-related industries and strengthening marketing and manufacturing chains. In addition, the project will support farmers with more modern technologies and work on developing new rose-derived products while elevating their quality to enhance their competitiveness in the markets, opening broader horizons for investment in this promising sector. — ONA
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