Utilising the most advanced techniques to enhance agricultural produce, the Agricultural Research Department at the Ministry of Municipality is all set to launch a plant factory to ensure production of vegetables round the year, a top official has said.
“The project, which will be announced officially during the next five months, will have positive impact on growing leafy vegetables, especially during summer,” said Hamad Saket Al Shammari, Director of the Agricultural Research Department, the Ministry of Municipality.
The plant factory will ensure steady production of high-quality vegetables all year round by artificially controlling the cultivation environment (light, temperature, humidity, carbon dioxide concentration, and culture solution), allowing growers to plan production.
Speaking to Qatar TV on Monday, Al Shammari said to overcome the challenges of high temperature and sun in the way of growing agricultural produce, greenhouses with special features are being used for sustainable farming.
“We, at Agricultural Research Department, have completed third season on using a customised greenhouse called ‘Sawb Al Qatari’ with height of about three metres.”
He said that the greenhouse was developed with the support of international agricultural research institutions.
“The idea behind setting up such types of greenhouse came during interactions with some Japanese agricultural experts. It is based on a technique of utilising air current in a way to enter the greenhouse reducing the sun to protect the plants from excessive heat.”
Al Shammari said using this technique the department grew a diversified range of agricultural produce to ensure production in large quantity.
“We produced a number of products such as tomato and cucumber and this year we grew eggplant,” said Al Shammari.
Speaking about major research works of Agricultural Affairs Department, he said: “Livestock Research Center of the Department is working on two important projects to bring about fodder to increase the quality of meat from sheep as well as the quantity of milk.”
He said that under the research project, the center found water-efficient and protein-rich fodder alternatives for native pastoral plants.
“We are also working on a research project to produce livestock free from any disease. These two research projects, which were launched two years ago, are expected to bring the positive results in coming years,” said Al Shammari.
He said that the Department is responsible to bring about solutions for the challenges of agricultural sector.
“We have two main challenges for farming – shortage of water and high temperature — which are being overcome by incorporating latest technologies and innovations to ensure food security in the country,” said Al Shammari.
He said that Agricultural Affairs Department partnered with a number of international and local research institutions including Qatar Foundation’s Research Center and Qatar University to bring about solutions for farming in the country.
“The entire agricultural sector enhanced efforts to ensure food security in the country by increasing self-sufficiency rate of agricultural production,” said Al Shammari.
