Oman has huge potential for greenhouse farming
Posted by Zawya
Oman Daily Observer
14 June 2010


MUSCAT -- Greenhouse farming has great potential in Oman due to its geographical location and climate.

Scarce water supplies have also led the Ministry of Agriculture to adopt policies that support the reduction of agriculture practices that require a high use of water or do not make the most efficient use of water.

Part of the ministry's policy involves either refurbishing and modernising existing greenhouse operations or relocating both green houses and high water use field crops to other regions of the country. One potential relocation area is in western Oman in the large region between Thumrait and Muqshin north of the Salalah crescent.

While this area is currently little developed, there already exists a good road and communications services and potentially large undeveloped water resources. Relocation of industries to the region could be the spark for a large regional development initiative and involve the assembly of a wide range of services and facilities.

Deliberating upon the need of greenhouse farming in Oman, Basim Bashir Abiudoon, Vegetable Crop Researcher at Agriculture Research Centre at Salalah, told the Observer: "This farming technology is useful for the countries, which are water stressed and have very poor endowment of water resources."

"The technology, thus, is suitable for this region as it reduces the evaporation of irrigation water and it also reduces labour cost and ultimately the production cost of the agriculture products," he said. The greenhouse farming is undergoing a dramatic change. The Agriculture Research Centre at Salalah is growing hothouse tomatoes and exotic plants for sale in markets.

The agriculture department is trying to popularise the technology among farmers and civilians and as of now there are five to seven greenhouse farms in and around Salalah.

The greenhouse farmers are exploring new forms, such as vertical greenhouse farms and new growing methods such as hydroponics and aeroponics. With the agricultural industry suffering from loss of topsoil, sterilisation of lands due to overuse of synthetic fertilisers and disruption of eco-systems due to indiscriminate use of pesticides, greenhouse farming may prove to be the most viable solution to the agricultural industry's woes.

Commenting on the location of greenhouse farms, Basim said: "A greenhouse farm can be located in the middle of the desert or in an urban metropolitan centre. The farm is a self-contained, self-powered operation that allows for the structure itself to be built just about anywhere. The farm can use hydroponics to grow its massive crops of tomatoes and cucumbers."

The size of a small and standard greenhouse is 270 square metres "that can allow someone to grow a garden of vegetables, fruits, herbs and flowers within the controlled environment," said Basam.

The use of several greenhouses, according to Basm, is more practical than one very large greenhouse for a small farmer. By having small greenhouse, one can adjust the environment of each greenhouse to suit the needs of particular crops. "Large-scale farms often focus on one crop, be it tomatoes, cucumbers, berries or other single food product," he said.

By Kaushalendra Singh

© Oman Daily Observer 2010

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