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Merge 104.8 | 04 July 2020
The number of Coconut Palm trees in the Governorate of Dhofar is estimated at about 150,000 trees according to the agricultural census (2012/2013).
The statistic does not include the Coconut Palm trees in parks, private and public places.
The annual production of the Coconut Palm is 7,000 tons, grown on an area of about 1455 acres. The Coconut Palm is the second largest fruit after Bananas. It is grown mainly in the plains of Salalah and Taqah.
Some people call the Coconut Palm “The Tree of Life” due to its multiple economic, nutritional, healing and cosmetic benefits. It is considered one of the main sources of vegetable oils. It is used in extracting oil and butter and making various types of sweets and cosmetics.
Due to its economic importance, the concerned government institutions in the Governorate of Dhofar are exerting efforts to preserve the Coconut Palm by increasing the cultivated area or multiplying their numbers and producing improved high quality seedlings for planting, in addition to controlling the agricultural pests.
The Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries continues to implement the distribution project of 50,000 seedlings over a period of 5 years. The project started in October 2017. The Ministry has distributed more than 12,522 Coconut Palm seedlings to farmers, citizens and government institutions. The project continues until it reaches the target number.
Dhofar Municipality is keen to pay attention to growing many Coconut Palm trees in a number of locations in Salalah and some coastal wilayats. The municipality has planted 3109 trees, from 2018 to the middle of 2020, along the main roads and public places in Salalah.
Dhofar Municipality oversees a farm for coconut trees, which has about 5,200 trees. The total number of Coconut Palm trees in the municipality stands at 11,740 in various public places of the governorate.
Dr. Ahmed bin Bakhait al-Shanfari, Director of the Department of Agricultural and Animal Research in the Governorate of Dhofar, said in a statement to Oman News Agency, “The Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries made great efforts to develop and maintain this crop”.
He pointed out that the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries is working to produce and distribute seedlings of various varieties of coconuts in its fruit nursery at the Agricultural Research Station, in addition to issuing brochures and guides on caring for the coconut tree and combating agricultural and pathological pests that affect its growth and productivity.
