Dhofar’s push to cultivate Arabica coffee in its mountain villages is moving from trial planting to a structured rural investment programme, offering farmers in Salalah, Taqah and Mirbat a new high-value crop linked to local branding, specialty food markets and sustainable agriculture.The project, formally titled Arabica coffee cultivation in the mountains of Dhofar, runs from 1 September 2024 to 30 August 2028 with a total allocation of RO93,000. It is being implemented by the Directorate General of Agriculture, Fisheries and Water Resources in Dhofar Governorate and financed by the Agricultural and Fisheries Development Fund.
The programme has been designed to revive coffee cultivation in Dhofar’s moderate mountain climate, where humidity, elevation and seasonal conditions create a more suitable environment than much of the surrounding arid landscape. Officials see the crop as a way to generate fresh household income in upland communities while adding a distinctive product to the governorate’s agricultural portfolio.
The first phase targets 30 farmers and has reached full completion in June 2026, with 750 seedlings planted. A second phase, carried out in October 2025, targeted 20 farmers and involved 2,000 seedlings, with implementation standing at 90 per cent. A third phase is scheduled for October 2026, also targeting 20 farmers and another 2,000 seedlings.
The project’s appeal lies in its attempt to move beyond subsistence farming towards a crop that can support production, processing, packaging and marketing. Arabica coffee, particularly when grown in mountain microclimates, can command stronger value if quality controls, harvesting methods and branding are managed properly. For Dhofar, the opportunity is not only to grow coffee but to create an Omani identity around it.
Farmers selected for the programme are being supported with seedlings, technical guidance, training in modern cultivation methods, pit preparation and irrigation practices aimed at reducing water loss. That element is central to the project’s viability, as any expansion of crop production in Oman must contend with pressure on water resources and the need for efficient farming systems.
Earlier trials in Qirun Hirti helped build confidence in the crop’s prospects, particularly with Arabica varieties such as Al Adini and Al Dawairi. These varieties, long associated with coffee-growing traditions in the wider Arabian Peninsula, are being tested in Dhofar’s mountain environment as the governorate looks for crops that match local conditions rather than relying on unsuitable high-water agricultural models.
Eng Radwan bin Abdullah Al Ibrahim, Director of the Agricultural Development Department and project manager, has linked the initiative to earlier crop diversification efforts, including turmeric cultivation in 2022 and ginger cultivation in 2023. That sequence points to a broader policy direction in Dhofar: identifying niche crops that can generate income while fitting the governorate’s terrain and climate.
The timing also gives the project wider commercial relevance. Global coffee markets have been volatile, with weather disruptions, changing supply expectations and demand for specialty beans shaping prices. The international benchmark for coffee eased in May 2026 from the previous month, but Arabica values remain high enough to keep growers and investors alert to opportunities in small-batch, quality-focused production.
Oman’s agriculture sector remains a modest part of the economy, but it has been gaining strategic importance under food security and diversification plans. Agriculture contributed about 2.31 per cent to GDP in 2023, with sector growth of 9.8 per cent in 2024. The policy emphasis is increasingly on higher-value crops, food processing, agri-technology and rural income generation rather than volume production alone.
Dhofar has particular advantages in that strategy. The governorate combines fertile pockets, mountain villages, monsoon-linked climate patterns and an established reputation for natural products, including frankincense. Coffee cultivation could add another premium agricultural line if the project succeeds in maintaining quality, scaling farmer participation and building reliable routes to market.
Commercial success, however, is not automatic. Coffee trees require careful management before they produce stable yields, and farmers will need continued technical support through planting, pruning, pest control, harvesting and post-harvest processing. The value of the crop will also depend on whether growers can move beyond raw bean production into grading, roasting, packaging and direct marketing.
The project’s four-year structure gives authorities time to measure survival rates, farmer readiness and the economics of cultivation before wider expansion. The planned October 2026 phase will be an important test of whether the initiative can sustain momentum after the initial planting cycles and convert farmer interest into a larger production base across Dhofar’s mountain communities.
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Oman