Oman directs RO 7.34 million to potato projects under food-security programme

Oman allocated an estimated RO 36.4 million to 106 agricultural projects between 2021 and 2025, targeting crops that can meet rising domestic demand, strengthen local supply chains and reduce dependence on imports, according to the Oman Observer. Of that total, 13 projects worth RO 7.34 million were directed towards potato production, a crop that until recently played a marginal role in Omani agriculture.

The figures come from Food Security Labs, a book documenting projects that have contributed to increasing local production, strengthening the food stockpile, enhancing added value and supporting the national economy, with the stated aim of localising the "Second Billion" in food security.

Where the money went

General vegetable cultivation secured the largest share of new activity within the programme. According to the published project data:

• Diverse vegetable crops: 56 projects totalling RO 15.95 million, aimed at high-demand local items including tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers and leafy greens.
• Onions: 30 projects valued at RO 8.00 million, driven by year-round domestic consumption and the crop's long-term storage viability.
• Potatoes: 13 projects worth RO 7.34 million.
• Garlic: 9 targeted projects accounting for the remainder of the portfolio, focused specifically on import substitution for a high-demand commodity.

The allocation places potatoes third by value among the named crop categories, ahead of garlic and behind onions, which have been designated a primary focus for national food security because of their long shelf life and daily consumption.

A recent crop with fast-growing demand

Unlike dates, wheat, onions, garlic and limes, potatoes were introduced to the region much more recently, as part of modern agricultural development. The Oman Observer reports that changing dietary habits, expanding urban populations and the growth of local food processing industries and restaurant chains have driven up potato consumption, making the crop a strategic priority in national food-security plans despite its absence from traditional Omani agriculture.

Oman traditionally imported the vast majority of its potatoes. According to experts cited in the report, current investments aim to replace foreign imports with domestic yield. The Al Najd region of Dhofar has proven particularly suited to the crop, offering cooler winter seasons, large tracts of land and modern centre-pivot irrigation — the combination needed to grow potatoes efficiently at commercial scale.

The contrast with onions illustrates how the crop mix has shifted. For centuries Omani farmers cultivated onions alongside staples such as dates, garlic, wheat, limes and pomegranates, irrigated through the country's ancient aflaj channels. Onions were practical in arid conditions because they are relatively drought-tolerant and store well compared with delicate leafy greens, and they remain the foundational flavour base in dishes such as Omani Shuwa, Harees and Salona. But while onions were historically grown on smallholder farms for family consumption or village trade, Oman now relies heavily on imported onions to meet national demand, and the government has strategically targeted the crop to move back towards mass local production.

Risk spreading and logistics

Agricultural officials cited by the Oman Observer said that spreading investments across multiple crop categories mitigates production risks, protecting local markets against unexpected climate disruptions and global price swings. Expanding local farm capacity also optimises fresh produce logistics, because import costs are reduced and there is no need for long-distance freight, cold storage facilities and handling expenses.

Local produce has strengthened supply chains and market stability, according to the report, which adds that localised production is expected to support price stability and quality by putting fresher crops on supermarket shelves. For importers currently supplying the Omani market, the RO 7.34 million potato allocation signals a deliberate move to substitute part of that volume with domestic output, concentrated in a single high-capability growing area with the irrigation infrastructure to scale.