MUSCAT: Oman’s food security-related sectors recorded a 44-per cent development rate by the end of the first quarter of 2026, while more than 2,000 jobs were created during the period, underscoring the growing contribution of agriculture, fisheries, livestock and water resources to economic diversification and domestic production.
Eng Khalsa bint Talib al Hadhrami, Director-General of Planning at the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Water Resources, said the sector’s growth is contributing directly to increased domestic production and efforts to replace imported products with locally produced alternatives.
“The growth directly contributes to increasing domestic production and, in turn, strengthens our ability to replace imports. This is being pursued through what we call the localisation of production and import substitution programme, particularly by expanding the cultivation of strategic crops, developing production and placing greater emphasis on manufacturing,” she said.
She noted that investment projects launched under the Tenth Five-Year Plan, along with projects being completed this year, have contributed to the expansion of food security-related activities.
The growth has also supported employment, with more than 2,000 job opportunities created during the first quarter of 2026 across agriculture, fisheries, livestock and water resources.
“These figures confirm that economic growth is beginning to translate directly into creating employment opportunities for citizens,” Al Hadhrami said.
The continued expansion of investment in these sectors forms part of Oman’s broader efforts to strengthen domestic production and build a more resilient food system. Greater focus on strategic crops and local production is expected to reduce dependence on imports while supporting farmers, fishermen, livestock producers and other local businesses.
The emphasis on manufacturing is also helping to extend value chains beyond primary production by creating opportunities in processing, packaging and related activities. This can increase the economic value generated from local resources while opening new avenues for private-sector investment and employment.
Agriculture and fisheries, together with livestock and water resources, are therefore playing an increasingly important role not only in national food security but also in economic diversification and sustainable development.
With continued investment and the implementation of food security projects, Oman is seeking to strengthen the contribution of non-oil sectors to economic growth, expand local production and create employment opportunities for citizens, in line with the objectives of Oman Vision 2040.
Oman Observer is now on the WhatsApp channel. Click here
