60 rural women graduate from Rifi programme

60 rural women graduate from Rifi programme

Muscat – The Ministry of Agricultural, Fisheries, and Water Resources (MAFWR) celebrated the graduation of 60 rural women, who completed training under the Rifi programme.

Rifi, launched in 2021 by MAFWR with the participation of Oman Development Bank, is a financing programme aimed at supporting and promoting entrepreneurship among rural women.

Under the patronage of H H Dr Mona bint Fahd al Said, Assistant Vice-Chancellor for International Cooperation at Sultan Qaboos University, the graduation ceremony marked the achievement of these women, who have emerged as pioneers in agriculture, fisheries, and related sectors. They constitute the first group of graduates to be trained under this programme.

“Rifi is one of the initiatives that demonstrates the commitment to human resource development and the empowerment of skilled individuals in various sectors,” said Dr Masoud bin Suleiman al Azri, Executive Director of the Agricultural and Fisheries Development Fund.

“The Rifi programme aims to empower rural women and entrepreneurs by enhancing their capabilities, boosting domestic productivity, promoting food security, and creating self-employment opportunities,” he added.

Dr Hamad Salim al Hinai, CEO of Knowledge Resources Foundation and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Al Moheet Institute, explained that the training programme spanned over one month and covered diverse topics staring