Oman: Growers advised to switch to greenhouses
And so instead of taxing natural resources in Oman by going the traditional way, experts advise farmers to use Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA). The option is being seen by many as not just environment-friendly but also a profitable proposition.
In Oman, it was found that greenhouse cultivation increased land productivity by almost 12 times and water productivity by almost double.
Dr Abdulrahim al Ismaili, from the department of Soils, Water and Agricultural Engineering, College of Agricultural and Marine Science at Sultan Qaboos University (SQU), said that farmers too have welcomed the technology.
“The number of greenhouses increased from 782 to 2,491 from 2001 to 2008, registering a three-fold increase. In 2010, greenhouses increased to 4,740 indicating an annual greenhouse growth rate of approximately 40 per cent,” Dr Ismaili added.
By the end of 2014, the total number of greenhouses in Oman was 5,475 (North Batinah governorate - 515 and South Batinah – 695).
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