The joint committee of Sultan Qaboos University and the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries held its first meeting for the year 2019 at Sultan Qaboos University on Monday, 25 March 2019. The meeting was chaired by H.E. Dr. Ali bin Saud Al Bimani, the Vice Chancellor of Sultan Qaboos University and H.E. Dr. Ahmed bin Nasser Al Bakri, Undersecretary for Agriculture at the Ministry of Agriculture & Fisheries.

The Committee discussed several topics on the agenda of the meeting, which included reviewing the follow-up report on the implementation of the recommendations of the previous meetings of the Joint Committee. It also discussed the registration of the Omani bee strain and the possibility of expanding the Omani honey research project at the University to include a wider sample of geographical regions in the Sultanate, in addition to cooperation in the preparation of standard specifications for Omani honey.

The Committee discussed the possibility of cooperation in the field of training of the Ministry's staff to diagnose diseases and parasites of honeybees using latest technologies, as well as greenhouse farming and agricultural mechanization.

The meeting also discussed the possibility of training university students in the centers and laboratories of the Ministry and the participation of researchers from the Ministry in the strategic projects at the university funded by His Majesty's grant. The Committee also discussed the financing of adaptation and mitigation projects in the agricultural and fisheries sectors.

The SQU-MoAF joint committee seeks to facilitate cooperation, exchange of experiences and information, and unite efforts in areas of mutual interest between the two organizations.