Muscat
The markets, shops, and commercial centers across all governorates of the Sultanate of Oman are witnessing active purchasing movements as the holy month of Ramadan 1446 AH approaches, with expectations of increased demand for fruits and vegetables during this blessed month.
Osman bin Ali Al-Hattali, Director of Operations at the Central Market for Fruits and Vegetables “Salah,” stated that the market is working to ensure the availability of an adequate quantity of imported fruits and vegetables. He urged market traders to increase and intensify direct imports from the countries of origin. During the period from February 10 to February 17, 2025, the number of incoming trucks reached 236, carrying 5,970 tons of fruits and vegetables.
He pointed out that local agricultural products are available in quantities that meet the expected increased demand. The central market received 3,160 tons of local fruits and vegetables during the same period.
He explained that working hours at the market have been set to ensure smooth operations, with the schedule for receiving trucks from wholesale shoppers running from 4:00 AM to 2:00 PM, aligning with the wholesale sales hall’s working hours. The schedule for receiving trucks loaded with local agricultural products will be divided into two periods: the first from 4:00 AM to 1:00 PM, and the second from 5:00 PM to 11:00 PM. These hours will be maintained throughout the week, except on Fridays.
Al-Hattali noted that the “Salah” team conducts continuous monitoring within the market to ensure compliance with health, hygiene, and safety procedures, applying best practices when handling fruits and vegetables to guarantee their delivery to consumers in optimal condition.
The team is also coordinating with several government entities to complete preparations for the holy month, including the Royal Oman Police represented by the General Directorate of Customs, and the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Water Resources represented by the Plant Quarantine and Food Safety Department, to enhance efforts and raise readiness levels to handle the increasing number of refrigerated trucks arriving at the market. He indicated that 185 samples underwent laboratory tests to ensure the safety of the products.
The Director of Operations at the Central Market for Fruits and Vegetables “Salah” mentioned that the market is limited to wholesale traders and works in coordination with the Consumer Protection Authority to regulate the prices of fruits and vegetables traded in the market to prevent exploitation of the increased demand for these goods, calling on all visitors to adhere to the schedules.
In the same context, Mohammed bin Obaid Salem Ghwais, Director of the Studies and Development Department, stated that the General Directorate of Consumer Protection in Dhofar Governorate intensifies its efforts each year and mobilizes its staff to conduct market surveys, which include monitoring commodity prices and regulating markets to ensure they are free of expired goods, displaying prices on goods and shelves, and highlighting price lists in vegetable and fruit shops, butcheries.
