Oman’s MAFWR empowers rural women through innovative agricultural initiatives
Muscat, The Gulf Observer: Oman’s Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Water Resources (MAFWR) has unveiled a proactive initiative aimed at assisting low-income families. A representative from MAFWR disclosed that, as part of a broader project supporting the marketing of agricultural products for rural women in Ibri, the Directorate General of Agriculture and Water Resources in Dhahirah has distributed essential equipment to 32 women beneficiaries.
Executed in collaboration with the Social Development Committee and enjoying robust support from the private sector, this initiative seeks to fortify projects led by rural women in various agricultural sectors, including vegetable cultivation, dates production, apiculture, poultry farming, and dairy processing. Salim bin Ali al Amrani, Director General of Agriculture and Water Resources, emphasized the primary goal of enhancing income and fostering economic independence among rural women.
The distributed equipment encompasses refrigerators, hatching devices, beehives, product packaging containers, labels, packaging machinery, as well as cutting and grinding machines. Amrani urged project beneficiaries to exert concerted efforts in increasing family income, encouraging their participation in specialized training workshops dedicated to women’s empowerment.
MAFWR’s broader program, Rifi, launched in collaboration with the Oman Development Bank in 2021, strives to support and nurture entrepreneurship among rural women, fostering capacity building, production enhancement, food security promotion, and self-employment opportunities. Notable projects initiated under Rifi include the establishment of 13 eco-friendly greenhouses, a beekeeping project training 100 women, and the launch of production and marketing activities under the brand ‘From My Home.’
