H E Mohamed bin Abdullah Al Rumaihi (left), Minister of Municipality and Environment touring the animal production research centre at Al Shehaniya yesterday. Pic: Abdul Basit / The Peninsula
DOHA: Under food security programme, the Minister of Municipality and Environment, H E Mohamed bin Abdullah Al Rumaihi yesterday opened a new animal production research centre at Al Shehaniya Municipality to increase the production of livestock in the country.
The centre stretching over an area of 78,000 sqm was built at a cost of QR30m. The project aims at researching best species of cows, sheep, goats and camels to increase production of livestock in a bid to meet self-sufficiency goals of the country in meat and dairy products.
As per the plan, the centre will share the results of research works with local animal breeding farms and provide selected species of animals to farmers increase the production.
The centre will also help protect livestock of the country from epidemic and diseases. The facility has a separate section to conduct research on deer under state-programme to protect wildlife.
The inaugural ceremony was attended by Sheikh Dr Faleh bin Nasser Al Thani, Assistant Under-Secretary for Agriculture and Fisheries Affairs and a number ministry officials and members of Central Municipal Council (CMC).
Minister of Municipality and Environment H E Mohamed bin Abdullah Al Rumaihi (third right) cutting a ribbon with Massoud Jarallah Al Marri (fourth right), Director of Agriculture Research Department, and other officials at the opening of the animal production research station at Al Shehaniya yesterday. PIC: Abdul Basit / The Peninsula
“The Ministry is implementing such projects to develop better species of livestock with strong immunity to increase the production of animals for meat and dairy products,” said Minister of Municipality and Environment H E Mohamed bin Abdullah Al Rumaihi .
Speaking with media persons on the sideline of inauguration ceremony, Al Rumaihi said that the project will serve to improve the animals genetically enabling them to combat the diseases. He said that the centre will protect all types of animals including camels, sheep and goats and help boost the livestock sector. “The centre is first of its kind in research on animal production in Qatar,” said Massoud Jarallah Al Marri, Head of the Agricultural Research Department at the Ministry of Municipality and Environment.
He said that the project was implemented in cooperation with Public Works Authority (Ashghal) within scheduled time. “The centre was built under food programme of the Ministry of Municipality and Environment to provide infrastructure for agricultural research,” said Al Marri, adding that the centre would help developing new techniques which will increase the income from livestock for farmers. “The research will be conducted to improve the animals genetically and protect them from diseases”, he added.
Al Marri said the centre was comprised of several facilities including research laboratories, veterinary clinic, animal husbandry. The facility has three main laboratories for animal nutrition, in-vitro fertilisation (IVF) and animal biotechnology, he said.
He said that there are a total of 30 animal husbandry at the space ranging from 20 to 900 sqm, adding that the centre had 50 goats of Shami species, 17 camels, 150 other goats which were under research study. The centre will be supplied new batches of animals to conduct the research to improve the species and increase the production, he added.
Al Marri said that there are eight deer (gazelles) and four Arabian onyxes which are under research. “A number of studies are going on at the centre including effectiveness of the intensive production pattern of sheep of Al Awasi species, productive and reproductive indicators of Shami goats and effect of date palms on the productive and reproductive performance of Al Awasi goats,” said Al Marrri.
He said that the Center would serve animal breeding farms in various ways. The centre will conduct researches to increase the production of milk and meat and find best ways to breed and feed animals. “The best species of animals will be selected and results of researches will be shared with farmers. The selected animals will be also distributed among breeding farms to improve the species of their animals.”
