Oman

Oman’s potato production takes place within an arid agricultural environment where high temperatures, limited rainfall and water availability strongly influence crop management. Potato (Solanum tuberosum) is grown mainly during the cooler part of the year, when temperatures are more suitable for tuber development. Agricultural activity is concentrated in irrigated areas, with the Al Batinah region among Oman’s most intensively cultivated agricultural areas.

Potato remains a relatively small crop in Oman compared with the country’s major horticultural and perennial crops, but it has been investigated as a potentially important vegetable crop for arid environments. FAOSTAT-based data indicate that Oman produced approximately 14,100 tonnes of potatoes in 2024 from about 457 hectares, with an average yield of around 30.8 tonnes per hectare. Production has fluctuated considerably over time, reaching a recorded high of about 23,100 tonnes in 2015.

Temperature management and cultivar adaptation are particularly important for Omani potato production. Research conducted at Sultan Qaboos University found significant differences among cultivars and planting dates, reflecting the influence of temperature on tuber number and tuber size. Studies identified cultivars including Vivaldi, Carlita, Bydand, Donald and Sterling as having potential for cultivation under the arid conditions of the Arabian Gulf. Oman’s potato sector also relies substantially on imported seed potatoes, making seed supply, cultivar selection and appropriate planting dates important components of production.

Potato is a relatively recent crop in Oman compared with traditional crops such as dates and other long-established food and forage crops. Research literature from the late 20^th and early 21^st centuries describes potato as a new crop for the Arabian Gulf’s arid environment. Experimental work in Oman during the late 1990s and early 2000s focused on identifying cultivars that could tolerate the region’s temperature conditions and determining planting dates that would allow satisfactory tuber production during the cooler season.

By the early 2000s, researchers were examining ways to make potato production more compatible with Oman’s vegetable cropping systems. Studies found that the conventional November planting period could restrict farmers from growing another vegetable crop beforehand, because imported seed generally arrived around November. Research involving multiple cultivars and planting dates suggested that shifting planting toward mid-December could maintain yield while providing additional time for an earlier vegetable crop. This work contributed to efforts to adapt potato production systems to Oman’s short, cooler agricultural season.