Qatar has achieved 82 percent self-sufficiency in dates production thanks to the support provided by the Agricultural Affairs Department of the Ministry of Municipality to local farmers to ensure food security in the country.
The self-sufficiency rate of the country in dates production was recorded 76 percent in 2020 showing a significant 6 percent increase in past two years.
The Ministry has been providing massive support to farmers including fertilisers, pollination and services for preparing the lands to improve the quality of local dates.
To provide good return to farmers for their hard work and investment, the Ministry organises festivals for fresh and dried dates enabling them to market their products directly to the customers without middlemen.
The move aims at encouraging them to increase the production and improve the quality. “We have achieved about 82 percent self-sufficiency in dates production,” said Head of the Guidance and Agricultural Services Section at the Ministry of Municipality, Ahmed Salem Al Yafei.
He was speaking about the importance of 7th Local Fresh Dates Festival 2022 season in marketing local dates in a video posted on the social networking site of Qatar Radio. The festival is being organised by the Ministry of Municipality and Souq Waqif at popular souq until August 10 from 3pm to 9pm.
“As many as 81 local farms are participating in the festival. First time five local farms growing fruits such as figs and lemons also being presented in the festival,” said Al Yafei.
He said that the idea behind allowing fruit farms to showcase their products at the festival is to encourage them continue growing fruits and improve the quality.
“After success of this experiment, separate festival will be held for fruit farms,” said Al Yafei. The Ministry of Municipality, in a statement yesterday, said that 7th Local Fresh Dates Festival sold over 58 tonnes of different types of fresh dates during past five days.
Over 15 tonnes of fresh dates including 5,726kg Khalas dates, 3,539 kg Shishi, 3,090 kg Khanizi, 1,759kg Barhi and 888kg of other types of dates were sold out at the festival on Sunday.
So far, the sale of local fruits which were showcased first time at the festival reached 696 kg. A total of 161kg fruits including 35kg figs, 120 kg lemons and 6kg green almonds were sold out on Sunday.
