Al-Rastaq, 2 March/Oman/represents the project “Ecotourism in Avlag Systems”, launched in the village of Balad Sit, Rastaq State, South Batinah governorate; A practical step towards the revival of the rural areas of the Sultanate of Oman, making it an essential part of the economic future of the Sultanate of Oman, where the project is funded by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in collaboration with the Ministry of Agricultural and Fisheries Wealth and Water Resources and the Zubair Centre for Enterprise Development.
FAO confirmed that the pilot programme for the development and promotion of agricultural tourism in Site country is the first of its kind in the Sultanate of Oman project “, where it is hoped that the project will move to other areas of the Sultanate of Oman, Besides the online marketing of these websites, and with the success of the pilot model in the country of Sist, This project is expected to be a starting point for expanding cooperation with the private sector in other parts of the Sultanate of Oman s economic sustainability and integrated community development “.
H.E. Dr. Thair Yassin, Representative of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations in the Sultanate of Oman (Acting), said: The project “Agro-ecotourism in Aflage Systems” is a pilot project on agro-ecotourism in Aflage systems for smallholder farmers. It is a case study of one of the selected Avlage sites among the nominated sites under the Heritage Agricultural Systems Programme of global importance. and the choice of the village of Balad Site was among 3 Omani sites due to the availability of avlage which plays a vital role in its living and economic patterns, Where WFP standards of global importance have been met (GIAHS) of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), opening the way for its protection and sustainability at the global level.
The representative of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in the Sultanate of Oman (Acting) added to the Oman News Agency that the SITE agricultural tourism project was aimed at achieving sustainable economic development in rural areas through the creation of new jobs and income enhancement through tourism, environmental and agricultural activities. The project also works to address rural-to-urban migration by empowering rural communities, with a particular focus on developing women’s and youth skills.
