Daijiworld Media Network - Salalah

Salalah, Sep 29: In a move aimed at boosting food security and sustainable agriculture, Oman and Japan’s Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) have signed a technical cooperation pact to draft and implement a master plan for the Al Najd region in Dhofar Governorate. The agreement was inked in Salalah under the patronage of HH Sayyid Marwan bin Turki Al said.

The accord was signed by Dr Ahmed bin Nasser al Bakri, Undersecretary for Agriculture at Oman’s Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Water Resources, and Kei Toyama, Director-General of JICA’s Middle East and Europe Department, in the presence of Dr Saud bin Hamoud al Habsi, Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Water Resources.

The master plan will leverage Al Najd’s rich groundwater and fertile plains to establish a strategic agricultural and food-security hub. JICA will help design a rolling plan for crop and livestock production, build planning capacity at the ministry, and identify high-value crops for domestic and export markets, with sustainability and resilience at its core.

Officials expect the initiative to create rural jobs, attract private agri-investment and enhance Oman’s food-security posture. Improvements in irrigation, logistics and crop selection are projected to raise yields and expand processing and export opportunities.
While financial details and timelines are yet to be disclosed, upcoming steps include environmental and social assessments, pilot projects, and capacity-building programmes for local farmers and ministry staff.

The partnership aligns with Oman Vision 2040, reinforcing economic diversification and food-security goals while deepening Oman–Japan cooperation in advanced agricultural planning.