Oman: Exporting pomegranates to other Gulf states hugely profitable
Farmers are currently harvesting pomegranates in Oman’s Jabal Al Akhdar mountains in the Nizwa provi…Farmers are currently harvesting pomegranates in Oman’s Jabal Al Akhdar mountains in the Nizwa province. Vendors there ran out of stock just three hours after the fruits were put out for sale on the day before Eid.
Mohammad Al Riyami, a pomegranate and grape farm owner, told Gulf News he sold his entire harvest to a trader from the Nizwa province for 3,000 Omani rials.
The pomegranate season in Oman starts from September 1 and lasts until the end of October.
The Jabal Al Akhdar mountains are part of the Hajar mountain range, an approximately two-hour drive from Muscat. Cooler temperatures in the mountains allow all types of fruits and nuts to flourish, including pomegranates, grapes, strawberries, raspberries, plums, figs, almonds, walnuts, pears and apricots.
There are around 23,000 pomegranate trees in Jabal Al Akhdar alone, according to figures from the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries.
The crop is mostly exported to markets in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar who buy pomegranate in bulk.
Ahmad Al Hinai, a trader from Nizwa, told Gulf News that he makes huge profits from the sale of pomegranate outside the country.
“There is a huge demand for the fruit in neighbouring countries. I eagerly await this season every year as I make at least 8,000 riyals,” said Al Hinai.
Since the pomegranate season lasts only two months, Oman imports pomegranates worth more than $2 million from Jordan, Iran, Yemen, India and Egypt every year, according to the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries.
The Omani pomegranate is known for its light red colour, sweet taste and soft seeds.
Some pomegranates can weigh up to 1kg.
The minimum price for one pomegranate is 1 rial.
(1 Omani Rial=2.60 USD)