Agricultural experts at the Royal Razat Farm in Salalah, under the auspices of Royal Court Affairs, have achieved a significant breakthrough in banana cultivation. They have successfully bred a new variety of banana, which originated from a spontaneous genetic mutation within a field of Williams variety bananas.

The Williams variety, a member of the widely cultivated Cavendish group, is a principal variety grown in Oman. The journey towards this scientific accomplishment began in 2015 when specialists selected several seedlings of this novel variety for cultivation. Over a span of three years, through careful observation and meticulous cultivation, the new banana plant variety was developed.

Upon careful monitoring, the genetic stability of the new variety was confirmed, along with its advantageous attributes when compared to its progenitor, the Williams variety. The new strain, named Moz Razat in honor of the farm where it was developed, exhibits several unique genetic traits.

These include an exceptional adaptation to local soil, water, and climatic conditions. A notable feature is the shorter flower-bearing stem of this variety compared to its parent, enhancing the plant’s ability to support the fruit cluster and protect it from wind damage. The Moz Razat variety boasts robust leaves and reaches harvest maturity three weeks earlier than the Williams variety. It also produces heavier stems and yields bananas that are less curved. This new variety holds the promise of increasing the economic returns of banana cultivation in the region, marking a significant milestone in Oman’s agricultural sector.