Sustainable Agriculture and Rural Development Strategy (SARDS) 2040 Investment Plan 2016-2020.
Country
Type of law
Policy
Abstract
The Investment Plan (IP) 2016-2020 is a national, multi-sectoral plan that represents the operational arm of the Sustainable Agriculture and Rural Development Strategy towards 2040 (SARDS 2040). While SARDS 2040 defines the vision and objectives to be achieved by 2040, the IP identifies the investment priorities and results to be realized in the medium term (2016-2020). The IP is fully aligned with Oman’s Five-Year Plan (FYP).
The plan seeks to make agriculture, forestry and fishery more productive and sustainable. To this end, the program will support projects that increase competitiveness in the crop and livestock sectors. In the area of crop production, investment priorities include establishing post-harvest infrastructure in key production areas and supporting farmers to supply these facilities with the required quality standards. While in the livestock sector the priorities include establishing milk collection systems in order to strengthen the raw material base of the national dairy industry; providing animal health and cold chain infrastructure and rehabilitating rangelands in the Salalah area. SARDS 2040 aims to progressively move towards the sustainable use of national water resources in order to achieve a zero water balance, while also increasing water productivity in agriculture and livestock production. In order to achieve a zero water balance, priority setting for investment will be focused on obtaining a sustainable water balance in the aquifers and regions of the country where agricultural production is concentrated and clear trends of groundwater depletion and seawater intrusion exist, where farmers are organized, thus enabling water users’ groups to be strengthened further; and where opportunities for value addition are greater.
Further, the document aims to reduce rural poverty through empowering rural communities and improving rural livelihood opportunities. The focus of these projects will embrace the enhanced management of natural resources in remote or disadvantaged rural areas, the development of SMEs in agriculture, and the promotion of farming at family level.
Increasing the resilience of agricultural and rural livelihoods to climate change and natural disasters is among the objectives of this plan. The required actions to achieve this outcome are related to climate change adaptation and mitigation as well as disaster risk management and resilience. They comprise improved planning and stronger institutional frameworks for coordination, collaboration and knowledge management. In this domain, the key role of the MAF is twofold: (a) foster policy dialogue and improved inter-institutional coordination to ensure that the role of agriculture and rural development is mainstreamed into national strategies and action plans; and (b) contribute to field and research operations to ensure that climate change, disaster risk management and resilience are mainstreamed into extension services and the dissemination of technologies and techniques for agricultural production, processing and marketing.
Regarding governance, the plan establishes that The MAF will be the institution responsible for coordinating its implementation, monitoring and evaluation, while the Supreme Council for Planning (SCP) will oversee of its implementation and achievement of results. Effective SARDS 2040 implementation will require the solid engagement of leading institutions in the country, namely: the Diwan of the Royal Court (DRC), the Royal Court Affairs (RCA), and the Office of the Vision 2040. Many investments and policy reforms that do not fall under the MAF’s specific mandate will require the establishment of specific committees or working groups for policy dialogue and reform, comprising a number of relevant ministries and chaired or coordinated by members of higher-level institutions. In this context, the MAF is responsible for initiating and convening inter-institutional coordination and policy dialogue on the different subjects to be addressed by the SARDS 2040.
The plan seeks to make agriculture, forestry and fishery more productive and sustainable. To this end, the program will support projects that increase competitiveness in the crop and livestock sectors. In the area of crop production, investment priorities include establishing post-harvest infrastructure in key production areas and supporting farmers to supply these facilities with the required quality standards. While in the livestock sector the priorities include establishing milk collection systems in order to strengthen the raw material base of the national dairy industry; providing animal health and cold chain infrastructure and rehabilitating rangelands in the Salalah area. SARDS 2040 aims to progressively move towards the sustainable use of national water resources in order to achieve a zero water balance, while also increasing water productivity in agriculture and livestock production. In order to achieve a zero water balance, priority setting for investment will be focused on obtaining a sustainable water balance in the aquifers and regions of the country where agricultural production is concentrated and clear trends of groundwater depletion and seawater intrusion exist, where farmers are organized, thus enabling water users’ groups to be strengthened further; and where opportunities for value addition are greater.
Further, the document aims to reduce rural poverty through empowering rural communities and improving rural livelihood opportunities. The focus of these projects will embrace the enhanced management of natural resources in remote or disadvantaged rural areas, the development of SMEs in agriculture, and the promotion of farming at family level.
Increasing the resilience of agricultural and rural livelihoods to climate change and natural disasters is among the objectives of this plan. The required actions to achieve this outcome are related to climate change adaptation and mitigation as well as disaster risk management and resilience. They comprise improved planning and stronger institutional frameworks for coordination, collaboration and knowledge management. In this domain, the key role of the MAF is twofold: (a) foster policy dialogue and improved inter-institutional coordination to ensure that the role of agriculture and rural development is mainstreamed into national strategies and action plans; and (b) contribute to field and research operations to ensure that climate change, disaster risk management and resilience are mainstreamed into extension services and the dissemination of technologies and techniques for agricultural production, processing and marketing.
Regarding governance, the plan establishes that The MAF will be the institution responsible for coordinating its implementation, monitoring and evaluation, while the Supreme Council for Planning (SCP) will oversee of its implementation and achievement of results. Effective SARDS 2040 implementation will require the solid engagement of leading institutions in the country, namely: the Diwan of the Royal Court (DRC), the Royal Court Affairs (RCA), and the Office of the Vision 2040. Many investments and policy reforms that do not fall under the MAF’s specific mandate will require the establishment of specific committees or working groups for policy dialogue and reform, comprising a number of relevant ministries and chaired or coordinated by members of higher-level institutions. In this context, the MAF is responsible for initiating and convening inter-institutional coordination and policy dialogue on the different subjects to be addressed by the SARDS 2040.
Attached files
Date of text
Entry into force notes
2016-2020
Repealed
No
Publication reference
Government of the Sultanate of Oman
Source language
English
Legislation Amendment
No