Increasing the Resilience of the Food Systems
In Islamic States in Face of Future Food Crises
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Assessing food security pillars in Oman
Oman’s global ranking in the food availability index dipped one place from 21 in 2017 to 22 in
2018. Nearly two-thirds of the Sultanate’s territory consists of desert, with average rainfall of
110 mm447 annually. Agriculture consumes 83% of Oman’s total water. Due to low rainfall, the
government is encouraging desalinated seawater and treated wastewater usage.448 Oman has
limited desalination activity compared to other GCC states, but it is planning to scale its water
desalination capacity by 66%, from 186 million gallons to 310 million gallons per day 449.
Oman largely imports food from other countries to meet high domestic demand. According to
FAOestimates, Oman’s food importswill reach $4.8 billion by 2020 from $2.1 billion in 2010.450
To secure food stocks, Oman aims to develop an agricultural bulk terminal with a capacity to
store 60,000 tons of grain reserves for the country 451. Oman has also considered farm
investments in African countries such as Sudan and Tanzania to strengthen food security. These
initiatives are in line with Oman’s plans to raise agricultural input to 3.1% of the country’s GDP
by 2020.452
Oman’s agricultural policy is inherently focused on food security to increase food production
and reduce imports. Food production has increased substantially from 1.2million tons in 2008
to 2.6 million tons in 2017.453 Oman Food Investment Holding Company (OFIC) estimates
Oman’s food self-sufficiency rate for 2020 as follows: 114% for vegetables, 82% for dates, 47%
for red meat, 48% for poultry, 76% for dairy, 45% for eggs, and 231% for fish. 454
To ensure food security, Oman has invested heavily in agricultural R&D; its total number of
greenhouses (protected agricultural units) are 6,516, many of which use soilless farming
techniques, which help increasewater efficiency and productivity455 . Oman is one of the largest
fish producers regionally; according to FAO estimates, 47% of its fish catch is exported. The
government aims to grow its fisheries production to 480,000 tons by 2020 456.
447 “Growing green strategic investments to boostself sufficiency and exports”. Oxford Business Group, 2018.
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448 “Oman looks to boostfood security”. Oxford businessgroup, 2018.
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449 “Food Security in the GCC”. Rand Corporation, 2018.
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450 “Food imports likely to touch $4.8 bn by 2020”. Oman Observer, 2018.
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451 “Food Security in the GCC”. Rand Corporation, 2018.
in-the-Gulf-Cooperation-Council.pdf
452 “Oman plans farm in Africa”. Times of Oman, 2016.
453 “Oman looks to boostfood security”. Oxford businessgroup, 2018.
domestic-produce-and
454 “Pact signed to secure Oman’s food security”. Times of Oman, 2019.
455 “Technology in farming key to food security”. Oman Observer, 2018. -in-
farming-key-to-food-security/
456 “Food and water security to 2025 in Oman”. Future Directions, 2018.