Sunday 05 / April / 2026
Muscat: The project to enhance the added value of rose production in Jabal Akhdar has exceeded 65 percent completion, with a total investment of OMR 150,000. The initiative is scheduled for completion by the end of 2026.
The project is being implemented by the Agriculture and Fisheries Development Fund in cooperation with the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Water Resources. It aims to strengthen the economic value of rose cultivation through comprehensive development of production, processing, and marketing systems.
As part of its objectives, the project includes conducting detailed studies to collect baseline data on rose cultivation and related industries in Jabal Akhdar, while also partnering with small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) specializing in rose-based products. These efforts are designed to build an integrated value chain for the sector.
The initiative also seeks to expand cultivation by supporting the planting of an additional five acres of native roses, introducing agricultural mechanization, and improving farming practices by up to 50 percent. In parallel, the project focuses on capacity-building through training programmes for rural women, enabling them to produce a range of rose-derived products such as rosewater, soaps, lotions, and cosmetics.
Hanan Said Al Sulaimi, Executive Director of the Agricultural and Fisheries Development Fund, stated in a statement to Oman News Agency (ONA) that 120 farmers from the Wilayat of Al Jabal Al Akhdar are participating in the project.
She pointed out that it will contribute to raising the economic value of the rose crop by improving production quality and increasing quantities. It also focuses on developing associated manufacturing industries, such as rose water and cosmetics, alongside empowering farmers and rural women, creating additional income opportunities, and enhancing the presence of the Omani product in local markets, with the potential for future export, thereby supporting sustainable development in Al Jabal Al Akhdar.
She added that the project to enhance the value-added of the rose crop in Al Jabal Al Akhdar offers a comprehensive support package for farmers. This includes providing them with small manual tillers equipped with accessories suitable for the topography of Al Jabal Al Akhdar, in addition to rehabilitating agricultural terraces and providing free seedlings for planting rose bushes, which contributes to boosting production and improving crop quality.
Al Sulaimi clarified that the support extends to empowering SMEs interested in manufacturing and marketing rose products by providing machines for extracting rose oil and attar, thereby enhancing the value-added of the local product and supporting its sustainability.
The Executive Director of the Agricultural and Fisheries Development Fund indicated that the project naturally spans several phases. During the remaining implementation period, efforts will build upon what has been achieved by expanding rose-related industries and strengthening marketing and manufacturing chains. In addition, the project will support farmers with more modern technologies and work on developing new rose-derived products while elevating their quality to enhance their competitiveness in the markets, opening broader horizons for investment in this promising sector.
