The ongoing agricultural census will support the Ministry of Municipality and researchers to boost food security policies, says Prof. Kaltham Al Ghanim,
Director of the Social & Economic Survey Research Institute (SESRI).
The census was recently extended between the Ministry and SESRI at Qatar University until the end of the year.
In an email interview with The Peninsula, Prof. Al Ghanim said the range of the exercise will give an accurate picture of the country’s agricultural sector.
“The comprehensiveness of the census provides an accurate picture of the reality of the agricultural sector and a deep understanding of the cost of crop and livestock care according to the various stages and activities. It will also give an accurate estimate of crop production and the size and dynamics of livestock in Qatar,” Prof. Al Ghanim said.
“This data will support and assist the Ministry of Municipality and researchers in developing plans and strengthening strategies in food security and the agricultural sector in general by identifying and prioritizing services provided to producers and consumers alike. Moreover, this information will certainly identify the gaps, if any, in this sector.”
Prof. Al Ghanim also added that the survey was extended to implement productivity and cost survey, and results will be published in the last quarter of this year.
“The agreement between the Ministry of Municipality and Qatar University in September 2020 allowed for the possibility of extending its work for another year to complement the other terms of the partnership agreement.
“According to which, the university was tasked with implementing the Agricultural Productivity and Cost Survey, in which fieldwork will end on May 2022, and we expect the result to be published in the last quarter of 2022,” she added.
According to Prof. Al Ghanim, the agriculture census of 2021 has been completed, and the relevant committees have approved its results. She also noted that the results would be announced during the Doha International Agricultural and Environmental Exhibition (Agriteq) next month.
The 2021 census included a complete count of all plant and animal holdings in Qatar and a total count of the crop composition and areas planted in farms with fruitful and non-fruitful trees. The census also included the agricultural workforce, classification, operations, and irrigation sources.
Prof. Al Ghanim stressed that statistics of livestock and their classifications were completed, including economic animals (such as sheep, cows, camels, etc.) and non-economic animals (such as buffaloes, deer, and others).
Qatar recently hosted the Islamic Organization for Food Security (IOFS) Forum, further cementing its commitment to food security in Qatar, the region, and globally. Last year, according to figures released by the Ministry of Municipality, Qatar’s agricultural production has nearly doubled in the past five years, rising from 53,000 tonnes in 2016 to 104,000 tonnes in 2020.
