Assistant Undersecretary for Agriculture and Fisheries Affairs at the Ministry of Municipality and Environment, Sheikh Dr. Falih bin Nasser Al Thani; Director of Food Security Department, Masoud Jarallah Al Marri; Director of Agriculture Affairs Departmen
Qatar, represented by the Ministry of Municipality and Environment (MME), has exceeded the target in achieving self-sufficiency in various fresh food products, including vegetables, meat and fish in 2019.
The achievement of the target of 2019 set under the National Strategy for Food Security 2019-23 is a big step by the country towards realisation of food self-sufficiency goals.
At the same time, Qatar has maintained the first Arab position in the indicators of achieving food security, and it jumped to 13th place globally after it was ranked 22nd in 2018, according to the World Food Security Index issued in December 2019. The index is based on three sub-indicators including consumer’s ability to afford food, food availability, and food safety and quality.
Assistant Undersecretary for Agriculture and Fisheries Affairs at MME Sheikh Dr. Falih bin Nasser Al Thani said that the Agriculture and Fisheries Affairs Sector launched many projects last year which helped increasing agricultural produce significantly raising the self-sufficiency in a number of products.
Sheikh Dr. Falih was speaking at a press conference organised by the MME at the headquarters of the Agriculture and Fisheries Affairs Sector to announce the outcomes of the implementation of the National Strategic Plan for Food Security 2019-23.
“In 2019, the Ministry launched 10 projects for producing vegetables in greenhouses with a total capacity of 21,000 tonnes vegetables a year,” said Sheikh Dr. Falih.
He said that two projects were also launched for producing camel milk with a capacity of 3,000 tonnes in a year. “Four projects for table eggs were launched with the financing of Qatar Development Bank having a capacity of producing 180 million eggs in a year,” said Sheikh Dr. Falih.
The official said that two projects for fish farming in floating cages with a capacity of 4,000 tonnes a year and a project for farming about 1,000 tonnes year of prawns were also launched last year.
Director of Food Security Department, Masoud Jarallah Al Marri, said that Qatar’s vegetable production jumped to 74,000 tonnes in 2019 from 55,000 tonnes in 2017, recording a 27 percent self-sufficiency.
He said that the production of local dates has also increased 29,500 tonnes in 2019 from 28,000 tonnes in 2017, achieving 84 percent self-sufficiency. “The milk production in Qatar increased from 60,000 tonnes in 2017 to 230,000 tonnes in 2019, recording over 106 percent self-sufficiency,” said Al Marri.
He said that fresh chicken production grew from 11,000 tonnes in 2017 to 28,000 tonnes in 2019, covering over 124 percent of total demand of the country for fresh chicken.
“The production of table eggs increased 4,000 tonnes in 2017 to 9,000 tonnes in 2019, achieving over 28 percent self-sufficiency,” said Al Marri. He said that Qatar’s red meat production rose 8,000 tonnes in 2017 to 10,000 tonnes in 2019. “Fish production reached about 15,000 tonnes in a year, representing about 74 percent self-sufficiency in fresh fish,” said Al Marri.
Masoud Jarallah Al Marri, Director of the Ministry of Food Security, said that the State of Qatar maintained the first rank in the Arab world, and jumped to the 13th position globally after it was ranked 22 in 2018, according to the World Food Security Index last December.
Al Marri pointed out that this remarkable jump from 22nd to 13th globally was in just one year, after the adoption of the National Food Security Strategy, which was adopted in 2018. He said that it was an indication that this national plan had contributed significantly to achieving food self-sufficiency, with the aim of improving the level of food security in the country.
Director of Agriculture Affairs Department, Yusuf Khalid Al Khulaifi, said that the MME supported farmers in installing many greenhouses some of which had begun the production.
He said that the Ministry aimed to set up 3,500 greenhouses on an area of 110 hectares with the production capacity of 10,000 tonnes and contributing an increase of 15 percent vegetables production.
Abdulaziz Al Ziyara, Director of the Animal Resources Department, said that the department is working on implementing a strategy that will last for 5 years, with the aim of preventing transitional and epidemic diseases affecting livestock.
The department also seeks during the coming period to develop the halal numbering system, to contribute significantly and serve as an early warning for any epidemic disease that may affect animals and controlling it before it occurs, as well as contributing to the development of the system of veterinary laboratories in a way that helps in taking decisions in this regard to preserve animal wealth.
The Director of the Fish Wealth Department, Abdulaziz Al Dehaimi, said that the Department has a national strategy 2018-22 aimed at reaching self-sufficiency in fresh fish and maintaining fish stocks, and the establishment of a number of fish and shrimp farms.
Hamad Al Shammari, Director of the Agricultural Research Department, said that the department has developed a strategic plan emanating from the National Food Security Plan for the Agriculture and Fisheries Affairs Sector, to create harmony and flexibility in work and achieve the desired goals.
