Sunday 19 / October / 2025
Muscat: The Sultanate of Oman marked World Food Day 2025 with a high-level ceremony underscoring its commitment to global food security initiatives and sustainable agricultural development. The event, organised by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Water Resources under the theme "Hand in Hand for Better Foods and a Better Future," emphasised collaborative approaches to building resilient food systems.
Dr. Said bin Harib Al Lamki, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Health for Health Affairs, presided over the ceremony, highlighting Oman's strategic alignment with international efforts to enhance food security and promote sustainability throughout food production and distribution networks.
Eng. Khalisa Talib Al Hadhrami, Director General of Planning at the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Water Resources, presented Oman's comprehensive agricultural assets, detailing a strategic framework that includes 5.5 million acres of agricultural land representing 7.5% of the nation's territory. "Our agricultural sector has achieved significant milestones, with 312,000 acres under cultivation and employment for over 256,000 Omani workers," Eng. Khalisa stated, noting the country's extensive resources including 9 million date palms and 26 specialized research facilities.
The livestock sector demonstrates substantial capacity with 3.2 million acres of grazing land supporting approximately 5 million head of livestock, complemented by an extensive network of 69 veterinary clinics and advanced dairy and poultry production facilities. Oman's fisheries sector employs more than 63,000 fishermen operating 27,000 licensed vessels, with infrastructure including 62 fish markets, 24 ports, and 114 processing plants ensuring robust marine resource management.
Dr. Thaer Yaseen, Acting FAO Representative to Oman, emphasized the organisation's long-term partnership approach, noting that "despite eight decades of progress, 673 million people still face chronic hunger while 2.8 billion cannot access affordable nutritious meals." He reaffirmed FAO's commitment to working with Oman and other member states to address increasingly complex global food security challenges through improved agricultural policies and practices.
The occasion showcased Oman's integrated approach to food system development, combining government leadership, private sector engagement, and international cooperation to advance sustainable food production and distribution networks aligned with global food security objectives.
