Why does Oman import much of its food despite having agriculture?

While Oman possesses fertile regions that support agriculture, such as the northern coast and the Dhofar region, domestic production is primarily subsistence-based and employs only about five percent of the population. Consequently, local output is insufficient to meet the country's total food requirements, necessitating significant imports.12

Historical factors have also contributed to this reliance on external food sources. Before 1970, a large portion of the rural workforce emigrated to neighboring countries, which caused many agricultural fields to lie fallow and led to the decay of traditional falaj irrigation systems.1

In response, the Omani government has implemented initiatives to reduce this dependence, including the establishment of research stations, model farms, and modern processing facilities. Furthermore, the state has actively encouraged the development of commercial fishing to better utilize the country's maritime resources in the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea.1