File photo of Expo used for representation
Doha, Qatar: A festival for local agricultural produce will begin today at the Farmers Zone of Expo 2023 Doha offering fresh vegetables and herbs from local farms in large quantities.
“Expo Festival for Qatar Agricultural Produce” will run until March 2024 from 4pm to 10pm.
The Ministry of Municipality represented by the Agricultural Affairs Department has announced the festival at a time when the agricultural season of Qatar is reaching its peak with almost all types of local vegetables reaching the market.
The peak agricultural season in Qatar is from December until February when all types of local vegetables including tomatoes will be available.
Local farms offer most of the seasonal vegetables including cucumber, leafy vegetables, pumpkin, and beans among others.
With the increase in the number of local farms, the seasonal markets are expected to offer 14,000 tonnes of vegetables this season, 20 percent more than the previous season.
By the beginning of November 2023, all five seasonal vegetable markets reopened for the agricultural season 2023-24 offering fresh vegetables and herbs from local farms in large quantities.
Over 140 local farms will participate in the markets which are called yards for selling local agricultural produce. The markets operating in Al Mazrouah, Al Khor-Al Thakhira, Al Wakrah, Al Sheehaniya, and Al Shamal offer agricultural products directly to customers without middlemen at competitive prices.
These markets provide a marketing platform for local farmers enabling them to sell their products to consumers directly without any middlemen. Prices of vegetables at these markets are lower than the daily bulletin prices because the farmers receive free marketing services.
The agricultural produce displayed at the market is under strict monitoring to meet the standards and required health conditions - the produce should be free from pesticide residues and of high quality.
The vegetable samples are taken to the laboratories to check the quality of the produce regularly.
The Agricultural Affairs Department of the Ministry readied the markets enabling local farmers to offer their produce.
The Department provided farmers with boxes for marketing vegetables, and stalls at the markets free of cost, enabling them to sell directly to the customers without middlemen to get good returns for their investments and hard work.
