Vegetables are displayed at newly opened Al Shahaniya Yard. Pic: Abdul Basit / The PEninsula
Minister of Municipality and Environment H E Abdullah bin Abdulaziz bin Turki Al Subaie announced yesterday to support local farms to set up 3,500 greenhouse farms in the next four years to ensure round the year production of certain types of vegetables in the country
The move aims at increasing self-sufficiency of the country in vegetable production.
The Minister said that the Ministry also plans to introduce water-efficient smart farming technologies for local farmers to increase the quantity and quality of vegetables.
The Minister was speaking with media persons on the sidelines of the inauguration ceremony of 5th winter vegetable market in Al Shahaniya.
“We are working to classify local farms in A, B and C category to improve their performance within a larger plan to increase the number of farms producing premium vegetables from existing 200 to 400 farms during next three years,” said the Minister.
The Minister lauded the role of private sector to ensure food security in the country in term of producing food products, import them and providing storage facilities.
“To boost the local agricultural sector, the Ministry will organise the 7th edition of the Qatar International Agricultural Exhibition (Agriteq) from March 19 to 22 at Doha International Exhibition and Convention Center (DIECC),” said the Minister.
Sheikh Dr Faleh bin Nasser Al Thani, Assistant Undersecretary of Agricultural Affairs, Livestock and Fisheries at the Ministry said that Qatar has become almost self-sufficient in the production of cucumber.
“With the implementation of new giant agricultural projects the vegetable production will see a huge leap by the end of this year,” Al Thani said yesterday.
He added that Ministry has earmarked land plots for establishing ten larger farms and the bidding process for the projects is currently going on.
“The productions of these farms are expected to begin by the end of this year,” said Al Thani.
He said that smart farming project will be launched in cooperation with a Japanese company soon.
“The project, a close door-facility, will enable the farmers to produce vegetables round-the-year with the help of a water and electricity-efficient technology,” said Al Thani.
