Muscat: Oman is formulating a contingency plan to ensure security of food supply in the event of global shortfalls of the kind that triggered an unprecedented increase in food prices during 2008.
A draft plan was discussed on Wednesday by the Public Authority for Stores and Food Reserves (PASFR), an agency charged with overseeing the government’s food security strategy.
The Public Authority met under the chairmanship of Maqbool bin Ali Sultan, Minister of Commerce and Industry, to review progress made in creating stockpiles of basic staples like wheat, rice and other commodities.
As part of its food security strategy, Oman is constructing a network of giant silos for food grains and other commodities at strategic locations around the country.
Like a number of Gulf countries, the sultanate is also exploring offshore contract farming opportunities for growing strategic crops in countries that have relatively abundant arable land, water and labour.
Separately, authorities are also developing wholesale markets for fresh fish aimed at ensuring that part of the local fish catch is made available for local sale and consumption.
Local consumers have long complained that a large proportion of Oman’s fish catch is exported to neighbouring countries, chiefly the United Arab Emirates, leading to shortfalls of fresh fish like tuna, king fish and other popular types of fish.
