(MENAFN - Muscat Daily) Following a significant rise in number of greenhouses in the sultanate, the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries (MoAF) has chalked out a comprehensive plan to boost productivity of vegetables and expand the total area under cultivation.
Eng Ahmed bin Yousef al Balushi, assistant director of the department of guidance and plant production, quoting data from the eighth Five-Year Plan noted that the total number of greenhouses had increased to 3,751 during 2012-13 compared to 2,569 houses as per the census conducted during 2004-05, showing an increase of 46 per cent.
He also pointed out the importance of modern methods to boost agricultural production in the country.
Eng Balushi spoke in detail about the ministry's efforts to provide funds to farmers so that they can be equipped with modern methods of cultivation, which will enhance productivity and give a good yield of vegetable crops throughout the year.
A recent meeting by the ministry discussed ways to boost agricultural production, increase the total area under cultivation and implement modern irrigation methods. The meeting also discussed use of pesticides and prevention of diseases that affect vegetable crops, said an official spokesperson of the ministry.
Introducing the technology of soilless cultivation among farmers, transfer of technology and the need to carry out more experiments with different agricultural system also came up for discussion, he added.