Agriculture in the Sultanate of Oman is considered one of the vital pillars of economic and social development, as it has been closely linked to Omani identity since ancient times and has served as a key source of food, income, and livelihoods. Despite the arid geography and the challenge of limited water resources, the Sultanate has succeeded in developing a diversified agricultural sector that relies on the cultivation of dates, citrus fruits, and vegetables, in addition to livestock farming, including camels, goats, cattle, and sheep.
Within the framework of Oman Vision 2040, the agricultural sector receives strategic attention aimed at achieving food security, improving the efficiency of natural resource utilization, and adopting modern technologies such as smart agriculture and efficient irrigation systems. It also focuses on strengthening value chains and agro-processing industries.
These integrated efforts have contributed to increasing productivity, improving the quality of local products, and enabling the Sultanate to enhance its export capacity and access regional and international markets with high value-added agricultural products.

Objectives of Oman Vision 2040 for the Agriculture Sector

The Sultanate of Oman launched Vision 2040 as a roadmap for economic and social development, aiming to achieve a diversified and sustainable knowledge- and innovation-based economy, with a strong focus on enhancing food security and relying on local resources. Agriculture in Oman holds a significant position within the objectives of the vision, which targets an annual agricultural growth rate of 4.5% to increase the sector’s contribution to 3.1% of the total GDP.
The vision also seeks to significantly strengthen agriculture and food security by raising food self-sufficiency from around 48% to 70%, and expanding cultivated land from 544 square kilometers to 1,044 square kilometers. Additionally, the strategies focus on encouraging the production of high-value crops, promoting sustainable water use to improve efficiency by 40%, and supporting the adoption of modern technologies, precision agriculture, and digital agricultural services.

Contribution of the Agriculture Sector to Oman’s GDP

The value added of agricultural activities in the Sultanate of Oman recorded notable growth in 2024, increasing at current prices from OMR 569 million in 2023 to OMR 623 million, achieving a growth rate of 9.5%. As a result, the sector’s contribution to GDP at current prices reached approximately 1.5%.

Similarly, the value added of agricultural activities at constant prices rose from OMR 549 million in 2023 to OMR 573 million in 2024, recording a growth rate of 4.37%, with the sector’s contribution to GDP at constant prices also standing at 1.5% during the same year.

Key Agricultural Production Indicators in the Sultanate of Oman

The agricultural sector in the Sultanate of Oman recorded an increase in production across both plant and animal segments. Plant production rose from 3.685 million tons in 2023 to 3.935 million tons in 2024. Similarly, livestock production also witnessed growth, increasing from 456 thousand tons in 2023 to 496 thousand tons in 2024.

Accordingly, the total agricultural output in Oman (including both plant and animal production) increased from 4.141 million tons in 2023 to 4.431 million tons in 2024, reflecting continuous improvement in the performance of the Omani agricultural sector.

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Agricultural production forecasts in the Sultanate of Oman until 2030.

Projections indicate continued growth in both plant and animal production volumes in the Sultanate of Oman during the period from 2026 to 2030. Total production is expected to increase from 5,075 thousand tons in 2026 (comprising 4,488 thousand tons of plant production and 587 thousand tons of animal production) to 5,432 thousand tons in 2027 (4,794 thousand tons plant and 639 thousand tons animal).

It is then expected to further rise to 5,815 thousand tons in 2028 (5,120 thousand tons plant and 695 thousand tons animal), followed by 6,224 thousand tons in 2029 (5,468 thousand tons plant and 756 thousand tons animal), and reaching 6,662 thousand tons in 2030 (5,839 thousand tons plant and 823 thousand tons animal).

These projections reflect steady and sustained growth in Oman’s agricultural sector across both plant and livestock production.

Detailed overview of plant production in the Sultanate of Oman

• The total cultivated area for crop production in 2024 reached approximately 311,684 feddans, recording an increase of 6.4%.
• The total plant production was estimated at around 3,935,196 tons, achieving an annual growth rate of 7%.
• Vegetable production in Oman is expected to grow from 1,435 thousand tons in 2024 to 3,757 thousand tons by 2030.
• Fruit production is also projected to increase from 503 thousand tons to 566 thousand tons by 2030.
• Fodder production is expected to grow from 1,950 thousand tons to 2,095 thousand tons by 2030.
• Field crops are projected to increase from 47 thousand tons in 2024 to 80 thousand tons by 2030.

Detailed overview of livestock production in the Sultanate of Oman

• The total number of cattle in the Sultanate of Oman reached 446,988 heads.
• The total number of camels reached 301,952 heads.
• The total number of sheep reached 681,650 heads.
• The total number of goats reached 2,592,694 heads.
• Red meat production in the Sultanate reached 51 thousand tons.
• White meat production reached 150 thousand tons.
• Milk production exceeded 241 thousand tons.
• Table egg production surpassed 54 thousand tons.

SWOT Analysis of the Agriculture Market in the Sultanate of Oman

Strengths (Internal Strengths of Agriculture in Oman)

• Launch of major strategic projects such as the National Seed Bank, which preserves genetic diversity and develops plant varieties suited to the Omani environment, thereby improving agricultural productivity.
• Adoption of smart irrigation systems, such as drip irrigation, along with the use of modern technologies in water and climate management.
• Significant investments in developing central markets and infrastructure, such as the new Al Mawalih Market in Khazaen Economic City, which enhances the quality and efficiency of agricultural product trading, storage, and transportation.

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Weaknesses of Agriculture in the Sultanate of Oman

• Oman is classified among countries with high water scarcity, which poses a major challenge to the sustainability of the agricultural sector.
• The topographical nature of the country, characterized by deserts and mountain ranges, reduces the available arable land, limiting opportunities for horizontal expansion in agricultural production.
• The rising cost of key production inputs such as seeds, animal feed, fertilizers, and agricultural equipment increases the operational costs of agricultural projects.
• Despite promising initiatives, the use of smart agricultural technologies (such as protected agriculture, vertical farming, and remote sensing) is still in its early stages, requiring further efforts to expand adoption and improve efficiency.

Opportunities of Agriculture in the Sultanate of Oman

• The Omani government provides supportive programs and initiatives that encourage the private sector to invest in food security projects, opening wide opportunities for strategic partnerships and increasing private sector contribution to self-sufficiency.
• The local market is witnessing steady population growth accompanied by rising food consumption, creating promising investment opportunities to meet the increasing demand for agricultural and food products domestically.
• There is potential to integrate the agricultural sector with tourism activities through the development of “agri-tourism” concepts, such as organizing visits to date and fruit farms in areas with distinctive natural landscapes like Jebel Akhdar and the Dhofar Governorate. This contributes to economic diversification and supports farmers’ income.

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Agricultural Threats in the Sultanate of Oman

• Rising temperatures and low rainfall levels exacerbate soil degradation and reduce its fertility, which negatively affects agricultural productivity and limits the land’s capacity for sustainability.
• The rate of groundwater consumption in agricultural activities is increasing beyond its natural recharge capacity, which exacerbates water scarcity and threatens the long-term sustainability of the agricultural sector.
• Despite ongoing efforts to enhance local production, the Sultanate of Oman still imports a significant share of its grain and basic food commodities, reflecting the need for further investment to increase self-sufficiency and reduce dependence on external markets.
  

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