An agreement on institutional and research cooperation has been signed by the Sultan Qaboos University (SQU) with the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) of the United Nations.

Dr. Rahma bint Ibrahim Al Mahrouqi, SQU Assistant Vice-Chancellor for Graduate Studies and Scientific Research, and Nora Ourbah Haddad, FAO representative in Oman, signed the papers. 

Dr. Rahma bint Ibrahim Al Mahrouqi said,” This agreement includes the assessment of the current status of the agricultural and fisheries organisations in the Sultanate to strengthen their capacities. This regional project includes three countries: The Sultanate, Sudan and Lebanon. The agreement is for the Sultanate only and will pave the way for further partnership between the two sides. Among the activities are survey and research on agriculture and food security, with the organisation of workshops aimed at discussing ways to support agricultural communities and preparing various reports on small-scale farming households, their means of support and assessment of their performance. “

Nora Ourbah Haddad, FAO Representative said: “The duration of this agreement is two years and the role of the university is to cooperate with the organization to conduct the survey and study in order to assess the current situation of agricultural and fisheries organisations and associations, evaluate the status of programs and laws in the Sultanate, capacity-building of those entities and developing plans for further development. Faculty and students of Agricultural and marine Sciences College participate in the project. There are three professors of the Department of Natural Resources Economics of this college and hope that the Omani society benefit from this project for the development of small holdings. This agreement with the University is important to FAO and we hope to do more projects.”

Source: Timesofoman