File photo used for representation
Doha: The agriculture and livestock sector of Qatar has grown leaps and bounds following a concerted effort to drive growth in one of the key pillars of the economy which is well poised to leapfrog in the coming years, according to a recent report by the Qatar Chamber.
The state has achieved 100 percent self-sufficiency in poultry and dairy products. The agri-sector has expanded in recent years due to the increased demand for food as a result of the rapid population growth and the government-backed initiatives which aims to boost food production in the country, the Qatar Economic and Commercial Activities Guide launched last week by the chamber notes.
Following the allocation of an annual subsidy to the agriculture sector to the tune of QR70m over the next five years and the growing interest in the agri-sector, the plant and animal sectors have made great strides on the path of sustainable development and achieving self-sufficiency. This aims to stimulate agriculture, animal husbandry and fish production and market agricultural products, the Guide stated.
Qatar has been ranked as a regional pioneer in the Global Food Security Index. The agri-sector enjoys prominence in the policies and direction of the state given its social and economic dimensions. It has been given greater attention so that its contribution to the domestic production has become significant and appreciated.
The local production of vegetables has witnessed a qualitative leap during the past years achieving an increase of 100 during the past three years as against the previous years. Production of vegetables last year reached around 102 thousand tons compared to 55 tons in 2017.
The self sufficiency rate in locally grown vegetables increased from about 20 percent in 2017 to around 46 percent this year which is an increase of about 130 percent given that the target percentage is 70 percent.
The percentage of self-sufficiency in red meat reached 18 percent and the target is about 30 percent while fresh poultry reached 100 percent thus achieving the target percentage and the same in dairy and its directives while the self-sufficiency rate of table eggs rose from about 14 percent in 2017 to about 36 percent in 2022, a growth of over 157 percent.
It is expected that at the end of the year will witness self-sufficiency rate of the product recommended by the National Food Security Strategy which is to cover domestic demand by 70 percent, the chamber Guide noted.
The extent of vegetable cultivation has reached around 2,766 hectares which indicates the growth in annual production rate while the total utilised area has reached around 1,41580 hectares.
The empowerment and consolidation of smart technology tools are the factors that have made agriculture in the state remarkable according to the report. Qatari farms use modern protected farming systems. The ministry has distributed 2436 greenhouses in addition to distributing 1,712 refrigerated houses, 100 houses dedicated to modern hydroponics and 100 rooms for drying dates to boost quality.
