Pictures by Abdul Basit / The Peninsula
Doha: With its wide variety of fresh local produce being sold at cheap prices, the Mahaseel Souq at the Cultural Village Foundation (Katara) has been attracting large number of customers during weekends.
Located in the Southern Area of Katara, Mahaseel Souq witnessed many customers on from Thursday till Saturday last week, the first time it operated since the conclusion of the fifth edition of Katara’s Mahaseel Festival where it was the major feature.
The weekly market offers vegetables, fruits, honey, dairy and poultry products, flower, herbal and ornamental plants directly from local farms to customers at competitive prices.
Held in cooperation with the Agricultural Affairs Department of the Ministry of Municipality and Environment, Mahaseel Souq operates on Thursdays and Saturdays from 9am to 9pm and on Fridays from 1pm to 9pm until end of March.
Almost all local agricultural produce reaches the market since it is the peak of the agricultural season. Over 45 outlets including 28 local farms and nine Qatari companies for meat, poultry and dairy products are participating with large quantity of products. A total of eight nurseries are offering varieties of flowers, and ornamental and herbal plants.
“Over 16 varieties of vegetables including tomato, green bean, eggplant, radish, leafy vegetables and mint are available at my shop,” Deepak, a shopkeeper representing a farm in Umm Salal told The Peninsula.
Deepak said that his outlet attracted large number of customers as he sold over 100kg vegetables in a day last Saturday.
Speaking about the prices of vegetables, Deepak said: “We sell vegetables in loose form per kg. The prices of vegetables are competitive compared to other commercial outlets because farms are selling directly to the customers without middlemen.”
On January 9, a kg of eggplant was available at QR2.5 capsicum was also on the same prices. A kg of green bean coasted QR5. Radish and tomato were also available at QR3 and QR3.5 per kg respectively. A kg of mint was sold at QR11. A box of mushroom of 250gm was available at QR5.
Apart from the vegetables, the outlet of Deepak offered honey of two nectars – Sidr and Rabi at QR250 per kg and Ikhlas dates at QR10 per kg.
Mahmoud Isa Mahmoud another shopkeeper confirmed doing brisk business at Mahaseel Souq. The outlet of Mahmoud also offered country eggs at QR20 per crate with various types of vegetables from his farm in Al Khor suburb.
Head of the Organising Committee of Mahaseel Souq at Katara, Salman Al Nuaimi said Katara hosted Mahseel Souq in coordination with the Ministry of Municipality and Environment to provide a marketing platform for local agricultural products.
Speaking to Qatar Radio programme, Al Nuaimi said: “The Souq attracted large number of participation from local farms and companies. We plan to allocate bigger space to accommodate more participants in the coming years.”
Speaking about the timing of organising the Souq, he said that this is peak of time of agricultural season when large quantities of produce are being harvested and taken to local market.
He said Katara attracts large number of visitors especially during weekend so it is good to open Mahaseel Souq from Thursday to Saturday.
“The Souq offers various types of vegetables, poultry and meat products among many others. In short what a Qatari household needs is almost available in the Souq,” said Al Nuaimi.
Speaking about the role of the Souq in spreading culture of agriculture, Al Nuaimi said outlets for flowers and plants attracted large number of customers - citizens and expatriates where they buy plants and get agricultural tips from the experts.
Customers lauded the quality of local agricultural produce offered at Mahaseel Souq. They also described the prices of products competitive in the Souq compared to those available in other places in the market.
