Abandonment of Agriculture land in Alrumais Village - Wilayat Barka- Sultanate of Oman

Abstract

Although abandonment of agricultural land was common in the past, it has become a major threat to sustainable land use because of natural hazards, conflicts, and changing their uses. In Oman, it is one of the most prominent signs of desertification, especially in the coastal plains and mountain and desert oases.

This study aims to; identify the state and reasons for abandoning agricultural lands in the village of Al-Rumais in the Wilayat of Barka and clarifying the economic, social and environmental impacts. The study methodology depends mainly on fieldwork, in addition to its reliance on data collection from available reports and studies and analysis of questionnaires.

The study concluded by identifying a set of reasons of agricultural abandoned lands in the study area, most notably: high wages outside the scope of agricultural activities, high costs of agricultural work by 87% for each of them. The study also concluded a set of environmental, social and economic effects such as; spreading of poisonous insects and snakes by 89% and being a place for illegal backfilling by 87%. Finally, the main recommendations of the study is the desire to raise the issue at the level of municipal councils and the Shura Council.