Omani farmers need to better understand crop rotation patterns to strengthen food security in the Sultanate in the long term, according to the project manager of Al Arfan Farms in Seeb.

“A major priority is the presence of a certification body,” says Arvind Venkataraman. “Farmers must have some sort of auditing process for food production, as well as international safety procedures. We are looking at crop insurance programmes as well.

“There is a need for state-sponsored insurance for farmers taking up specialised crop production, as opposed to one person growing one crop and everyone else growing that crop as well,” he added.

“(Crop insurance) programmes are usually bought from a firm for growing one crop and given to farmers who receive training only in that crop,” Venkataraman said.