Doha: Qatar produced 100,000 tonnes of agricultural produce in 2022, increasing the self-sufficiency rate of the country in vegetables to 46 percent, an official has said.
“Local vegetables production witnessed an increase of over 100 percent last year compared to 2017, said Director of Agricultural Affairs Department at the Ministry of Municipality, Youssef Khalid Al Khulaifi.
Speaking to Qatar TV recently, he said ambition of the Ministry is to increase the local agricultural produce to a certain level of self-sufficiency.
“To do so, we have taken a number of measures such as expanding the agricultural season which is from November to May in Qatar because of the climate,” said Al Khulaifi.
He said that the season is being expanded by ensuring agricultural produce throughout the year with the support of greenhouses.
“Since the climate of Qatar is not much favourable to produce vegetables in farms during summer, we have provided suitable environment for growing vegetables through cold houses (shaded facilities with necessary equipment to serve as greenhouse),” said Al Khulaifi.
He said that the imported cold houses, which were used after making necessary modification to suite the local climate, have contributed greatly in increasing the agricultural output.
“The Agricultural Research Department made partnerships with a number of research intuitions to develop water efficient cold houses for agricultural produce according to the climate of Qatar,” said Al Khulaifi.
The Director of Agricultural Affairs Department also highlighted marketing platforms provided by the Department to local farms to sell their produce directly to consumers without any middlemen.
“The first marketing platform, Yard for Selling Agricultural Produce, was opened at Al Mazrouah in 2012 which was gradually increased to five markets.
“We conducted experiments by shifting seasonal vegetable market of Al Mazrouah to a permanent facility, ensuring its operations round the year.”
Al Khulaifi said that after successful experience of Al Mazrouh market in term of attracting a large number of consumers, the Department extended the operating hours of the yards in Al Wakrah and Al Khor from three days in a week (Thursday, Friday and Saturday) to 7-days a week at the start of this season.
Now three yards (vegetable markets) which opened in November continue their operations round the week. The remaining two markets in Al Sheehaniya and Al Shamal are on Thursdays and Fridays only.
Al Khulaifi said the Ministry of Municipality is also running ‘Qatar Farms' and ‘Premium Products' programmes, enabling local farmers to sell their produce through major commercial outlets.
“Mahaseel for Marketing and Agri. Services Company (a subsidiary of Hassad) was also set up to market local vegetables,” said Al Khulaifi.
He said that these platforms provided by the Ministry of Municipality, are contributing in selling over 50 percent of local agricultural produce.
“The market shares of these platforms are expected to grow significantly this year,” said Al Khulaifi.
The move to increase local vegetable produce is part of a massive programme running under National Food Security Strategy (2018-23) to develop the agricultural sector and to expand and enhance the commercial activities of food production.
This is through developing policies to support the private sector with investment incentives creating opportunities to build projects to ensure food security.
To encourage the private sector to come forward in ensuring food security, the Ministry of Municipality has offered investment opportunities to the private sector through public-private partnership programme.
