Prime Minister and Interior Minister H E Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa Al Thani at the inauguration of the seventh edition of Qatar International Agricultural Exhibition (AgriteQ2019) and the First International Environmental Exhibition (Envirote
Under the patronage of Amir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Prime Minister and Interior Minister H E Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa Al Thani inaugurated yesterday the seventh edition of Qatar International Agricultural Exhibition (AgriteQ 2019) and the First International Environmental Exhibition (EnviroteQ) at Doha Exhibition and Convention Center (DECC).
H E the Prime Minister also inaugurated a project to plant one million trees as part of the efforts of Qatar to support the global initiative on climate change and sustainable environment in the pavilion of Ministry of Municipality and Environment at the exhibition.
The project aims at utilising treated sewage water for irrigation, reducing the wastage of water, enhancing biological diversity, improving air quality, increasing greenery to reduce carbon footprint.
H E the Prime Minister also inaugurated Mahaseel for Marketing and Agricultural Services Company's (a subsidiary of Hassad) operations, as well as the farmers’ registration process to support the local farmers.
Mahaseel announced that the registration process is now open to all local productive farms, through its official website (www.Mahaseel.qa), in order to benefit from the marketing and agricultural services that will be provided by the company.
The opening ceremony of the exhibition was attended by a number of Their Excellencies Ministers, members of the diplomatic corps accredited to Qatar, and the companies participating in the exhibition from inside and outside Qatar.
A welcome speech and an explanation of the exhibition was presented by Minister of Municipality and Environment H E Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Subaie. A visual presentation of the development and strategies related to the two areas was also presented.
Later, H E the Prime Minister and Interior Minister toured various sections and pavilions of the exhibition, during which he learned about the latest technologies and equipment used in the agricultural and environmental fields.
The Minister of Municipality said that in recent years Qatar has paid great attention to the development of the country’s wealth, including agricultural sector.
The Minister pointed out that the Ministry has provided all means to support agricultural producers by distributing agricultural support materials, greenhouses, honey bee cells, and agricultural production requirements such as seeds, fertilizers, pesticides, marketing packages and others, while livestock breeders are supported by concentrated feeds and animal production requirements such as milk and sheep wool cutting machine among many more.
The Minister added that all these efforts have led to increased productivity of local vegetables, dates and green fodder, and increasing the number of animals and the breeders, and production of fresh chicken, table eggs, milk and dairy products.
The Minister also announced that the next edition of ‘AgriteQ; and the second edition of the EnviroteQ’ will be held from March 22 to 25, 2020.
Mahaseel said that it will provide support the local farmers by marketing their produces, as well as provide other agriculture-related services, with the aim of increasing the quantity and enhancing the quality of local produce.
Mohamed bin Badr Al Sadah, Hassad’s CEO, said: “We are keen to provide support to the private agricultural sector and encourage the farmers to increase the quantity and quality of their production, given that supporting food security efforts tops Hassad’s strategic objectives.”
He said, “Mahaseel will start its operations within the next few months, after compiling and assessing all applications received from the farmers”.
“A total of 434 agricultural companies from 50 countries are participating the exhibition,” Mohamad Ali Al Khouri, Director of Public Parks Department and Head of the Organising Committee of the Exhibition told The Peninsula.
He said that a total of 87 local farms are showcasing their fresh produces at a separate pavilion at the exhibition.
“A mini zoo and a small farmers’ market was set up for children to create awareness among them. The children will be given gifts once they finish their shopping from the market,” said Al Khouri.
Umar Salem Al Naimi, Director of the Department of Protection and Wildlife at the Ministry said that the initiative of planting one million trees will be run by the Department of Climate Change.
He said that the initiative is part of the efforts of environment protection sector at the Ministry which aims at involving the community in the efforts of the Ministry.
On the sidelines of the two exhibitions, a conference will be held to exchange experiences, learn the latest practices and research on the most pressing issues and major challenges at the environmental and agricultural levels, as well as explore new opportunities in agricultural production at the local and regional levels.
