Dr Fouad bin Jaafar Al Sajwani, the Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, yesterday hailed the Royal support provided by His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said to develop the fisheries sector during 2013-2020. The strategy, which has been developed by the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, was approved by the Supreme Council for Planning.
??In an interview with the Economic Vision program, broadcast by the Sultanate of Oman TV, the Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries said that the Ministry has got financial allocations estimated at OMR500million for the program.??
He said the central fish market in the wilayat of Barka would be launched at the end of the first quarter this year and there is an integrated plan to operate the market and expand other markets too. The plan includes the construction of 41 markets in different parts of the Sultanate, of which nearly 25 percent have been completed.??
He added that the Ministry has received additional allocations to subsidize the agricultural sector, equivalent to 250 percent of the previous subsidy. The subsidy to agriculture and fisheries sector is very important because of the risks faced by farmers and fishermen due to adverse weather conditions, lack of water supplies, rising cost of production and limited ability to compete in the world markets.
