Omani Youth Invests in Fig Farming to Achieve Sustainable Returns

Young Omani Entrepreneur Expands Commercial Fig Cultivation in Ibri

Ibri:  Omani youth are increasingly channeling their talents and capabilities into successful agricultural ventures, contributing to the development, management, and investment in commercially viable local crops that generate sustainable economic returns.

Among these initiatives is a project led by Abdulrahman Hamoud Al Kalbani, an Omani youth from the village of Al Houmaniya in the Wilayat of Ibri, who has successfully transformed his passion for agriculture into a productive enterprise specializing in fig cultivation.

Al Kalbani explained that his agricultural project began in 2023 as a personal experiment driven by his interest in fig trees, given their high nutritional value and promising economic potential. He initially planted around 300 fig trees on his farm in Al Houmaniya, achieving encouraging results during the first production season that exceeded expectations and motivated him to expand the project.

He added that the success of the initial phase led to the planting of an additional 300 trees in another field, accompanied by a noticeable improvement in crop quality. Gradual expansion continued until the total number of fig trees reached approximately 1,200, spread over an area of nearly four acres.

Al Kalbani noted that consistent care and proper farm management have played a key role in increasing productivity, with daily yields during the harvest season exceeding 100 kilograms of figs. He attributed this success to the adoption of modern agricultural practices, including regular irrigation, organic fertilization, periodic pruning, and washing the trees approximately every two weeks to maintain plant health and enhance productivity.

Regarding marketing, Al Kalbani stated that the figs are marketed locally by packaging them in plastic containers and distributing them to commercial shops and retail outlets within the Wilayat of Ibri. He emphasized his ongoing efforts to improve product presentation and packaging in line with market demands and consumer preferences.

He explained that the project currently relies on two main fig varieties—Brown Turkey and Deanna—due to their high productivity, superior quality, and relative resistance to pests. In addition, he is experimenting with ten other varieties to identify the most suitable options for future expansion.

Al Kalbani expressed his aspiration to add greater value to fig production through downstream processing projects, such as the manufacture of fig jam and dried figs. He noted that such initiatives would help absorb surplus production, open new marketing opportunities, and increase economic returns for farmers, while encouraging private sector participation in agricultural value chains.