Horticulture Research Directorate

Over the past years, it has been noted that the sector of production of vegetables and fruit trees has expanded significantly, both in terms of area, production and diversity in agriculture and in agricultural areas. Where cultivated areas of vegetables increased from

(466.8) thousand dunums in 1997 to (479) thousand dunums in 2005 and (495) thousand dunums in 2013, while areas under cultivation of fruit trees increased to (858) thousand dunums in 2012 despite many challenges

The most important of these are the scarcity of irrigation water and its high salinity, increased costs of production inputs, as well as changing challenges in the marketing of products in both domestic and external markets.

In order to contribute to finding appropriate solutions to these variables, the directorate has worked over the past years to implement several research and transfer of new agricultural techniques, including the use of fertilizer techniques in irrigation in order to increase the efficiency of the use of water and fertilizer and to reduce the negative effects on the soil and the environment, compared to traditional composting methods .The results indicated that irrigation fertilizer techniques reduced the cost of fertilizer by 50% and improved water efficiency by 30%. The development and study of soiless farming systems and the study of water efficiency compared to agriculture in traditional soil. A simple, low-cost soiless cultivation system has been developed adapted to agricultural conditions in areas with water scarcity. The system has saved 70% of the amount of water consumed and saved the cost of fertilizer by 30 - 40% and soil sterilizers by 100%. The transfer of vegetable seedlings grafting technology and its impact on the productivity and quality of the fruits of many vegetables such as tomatoes, water melons and melons. The dissemination of these techniques has reduced the use of soil pesticides by 100% and increased production by 20%.

Goals:

Horticultural Research Directorate aims at improving revenues and opportunities for farmers' domestic and external marketing through increase in agricultural production, diversity, optimal utilization of resources and reduction of post-harvest loss



The Horticulture Research Directorate is carrying out the following Mission:
1
Conduct applied scientific research in the following fields:
1.1- Cultivation, evaluation and dissemination of new varieties of vegetables and fruits in different parts of the Kingdom under different conditions.
1.2- Introduction and evaluation of new agricultural techniques such as soilless agriculture, grafting of vegetables and improved management of protected farming systems.
1.3- Applying good agricultural practices and developing farm management.
1.4- Improve the quality of the horticultural products and reduce post-harvest losses.
1.5- Deal with emerging and temporal climatic conditions such as frost, drought and high temperature stresses.
1.6- Increase the productivity of the olive tree and improve the quality of the oil produced.
1.7- Preserve and develop the national heritage of olives and increase their utilization.
1.8- Increase the production of date palm trees and improve the quality of produced fruits.
1.9- Organic agriculture.
1.10- Develop and enhance food processing of farm products.
2
Provide laboratory analysis services to test the quality of olive oil and the vitality of date palm pollen.
3
Qualify and capacity build up of technical staff.
4
Publish and document the results of agricultural research carried out in the Directorate.
5
Prepare the annual plan for the implementation of the work assigned to the Directorate and follow-up its implementation.
The Directorate has the following departments and divisions , which carry out the tasks assigned to it: