Omani Minister of Agriculture Commends Algeria’s Pioneering Food Security Efforts
During his visit to Blida, Algeria, on Wednesday, Dr. Saud bin Hamoud Al-Habsi, the Omani Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Water Resources, praised Algeria’s “pioneering” initiatives in achieving food security. He called for strengthened bilateral cooperation between the two nations to leverage Algeria’s experience.
Accompanied by local authorities, the Omani minister toured the Vitroplant Algeria company in Beni Tamou, where he acknowledged “the significant efforts made by Algeria to ensure food security for its population,” particularly in the cultivation of strategic crops.
Dr. Al-Habsi emphasized the Sultanate of Oman’s keen interest in collaborating with Algeria within the agricultural sector to harness its expertise, expressing optimism about potential substantial projects between the two countries in the future.
Regarding Vitroplant Algeria, he pointed out that the company “is well-equipped to supply seedlings of various fruit trees, including almonds and olives, as well as potato seeds, which are essential crops needed by many nations.”
The Omani minister and his delegation inquired about the various stages of seedling production before attending a presentation on the company’s potato seed production project.
According to the information provided to the delegation, this strategic initiative aims to enhance national capabilities in potato seed production to meet local producers’ demands and achieve self-sufficiency, while also emphasizing export opportunities.
The visiting Omani official also assessed potential avenues for cooperation between the two countries through this company, particularly given its use of cutting-edge technologies in producing high-quality seedlings tailored to modern intensive agriculture, with an estimated annual production capacity of 15 million seedlings.
The visit of the Omani Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Water Resources to Blida is part of the follow-up to the discussions between Sultan Haitham Bin Tariq and President Abdelmadjid Tebboune during the latter’s official visit to Oman in 2024.
Minister Saud Bin Hamoud Al-Habsi is accompanied in Algeria by an official delegation, including Mr. Abdulsalam Bin Mohammad Al Murshidi, president of the Oman Investment Authority (OIA).
