The Agriculture and Fisheries Development Fund (AFDF)of Oman, which marked its 10th anniversary in Muscat yesterday, plans to introduce an integrated systems of Agriculture and Aquaculture (aquaponics) throughout the country. Introduced recently in a limited way as a pilot project, aquaponics has been found to be most suitable to Oman, Ahmed Shams al Siyabi, who heads the AFDF’s Technical Section, told the Observer. Aquaponics is a system of aquaculture in which the waste produced by farmed fish or other aquatic animals supplies nutrients for plants grown hydroponically, which in turn purify the water. Shedding light on AFDF’s future plans, Al Siyabi said the fund has a programme to cover more people for giving financial and advisory assistance, and to introduce new ideas and techniques in order to improve breeding, farm and fishing activities.
There is also a plan to provide better boats to fishermen so that they can have access to farther places in the sea. The AFDF gives partial and full funds to farmers, breeders, fishermen to start and expand their projects. Al Siyabi said the Ministry of Finance gives around RO 3.5 million to the AFDF for extending free financial assistance to projects in agriculture, livestock and fisheries. The projects are spread out from Musandam to Dhofar, including very remote and difficult places like Jabal Abiad in Sharqiyah, and Jabal Akhdhar in Dhakhiliyah. More funds will be available for people every where. In these endeavours, AFDF seeks cooperation from various foreign bodies such as the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), which provides technical cooperation, Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), some agencies in Jordan, Morocco, and other countries.
The Agriculture and Fisheries Development Fund (AFDF), created in 2004 through a Royal Decree, marked its 10th anniversary here yesterday in an event held under the auspices of Shaikh Saud bin Sulaiman al Nabhani, State Adviser. During the past decade (2004-2014) AFDF financed 189 projects in sectors such as agriculture, livestock and fisheries, which amounted to RO 34 million. The fund provides total or partial funding for the implementation of projects in the three sectors including funding of scientific researches, enhancing the sources of agricultural, livestock and fisheries, adopting advanced technologies and conducting development programmes and feasibility studies. AFDF has managed to address a host of problems facing the sector thanks to its flexible system and financial and administrative independence. The fund also kept pace with the subsequent 5-year development plans adopted by the ministry of agriculture and fisheries.
Many of these projects have achieved remarkable success and benefited a wide sector of citizens either through direct funding or services. For instance, during 2013 AFDF provided support to 58 projects to the tune of over RO 6.6 million. Al Siyabi says agriculture, livestock and fisheries sectors are important parts of the Omani economy. These sectors, say experts, have been facing several challenges arising mainly from abiotic and biotic factors in recent decades. Of late, climate change has been affecting the fragile local ecosystems and their flora and fauna through the associated effects of natural disasters such as cyclone events, flooding, droughts, ocean acidification and human actions that have adversely affected agricultural and fisheries production.
A report released by the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries last year shows that fish and agricultural production in 2012 increased to RO 462 million in comparison with RO 362.2 million recorded in 2009, as the annual growth average recorded in 2009-2013 was 8.5 per cent and the value of the agricultural production has steadily increased. Fish production increased from RO 110,700 in 2009 to 142,000 in 2012, which marks a promising growth in the value of production of key sectors. The study indicated that the agricultural sector is a cornerstone of agricultural development and its contribution is significant in increasing the GDP and employment, as the sector has seen a significant increase in the rate of self-sufficiency in agricultural products.
The Agricultural and Fisheries Development Fund is one of the most important sources of assistance to farm and fisheries sectors. The has Fund achieved in years significant accomplishments in the area of financing research, development and awareness projects aimed at contributing to the growth in the agricultural, livestock and fisheries sectors.
Oman Establishment for Press, Publication and Advertising (OEPPA)