The winter vegetable markets operating in Al Mazroua, Al Khor-Dakhira and Al Wakra will be closed down from today for three months as the season ends, said Yusuf Khalid Al Khulaifi, Director of Agriculture Affairs at the Ministry of Municipality and Environment.
This is the last week of the season, the next season is expected to start after three months from September 2017, Al Khulaifi told The Peninsula.
“This season was very successful like previous ones as many new agricultural farmers participated. The popularity of winter markets is growing year by year. They received overwhelming response from the customers this year as well. Therefore, we have planned to open two new markets at Al Shahaniya and Muaither next season," said Khalifi.
“Now we are at end of the season, the production of vegetables in open farms has declined due to soaring temperature," said Mohamad, a vendor at winter market in Al Mazrouah.
“We were told by the authorities that this is the last week of the season. With decreasing produce and increasing temperatures, the market has started losing charm for the past few weeks. But still we have some loyal customers who used to wait the weekend to buy the vegetables in large quantity,” said Mohamad.
“Today, we showcased tomatoes, pumpkins, and water melons produced in farms and cucumber, spinach, capsicum and mint from greenhouse. I sold about 50 boxes of vegetables. In the peak season when we have verities of vegetables, the sale would reach 300 boxes in a day at a single market at Al Mazrouh.”
“We produced about 10 percent more vegetables this season compared to previous seasons and we are preparing more lands to increase the produce next season.” Mohamad said that during summer, they would focus on greenhouse as the production continued throughout the year. "When the winter market is closed, we take our all products to Central Market at Abu Hamour."
All three markets offer a variety of vegetables, and poultry products from Qatari farms at attractive prices. The prices are less compared to the central fruit and vegetable market. It provides an opportunity to farmers to sell their products directly to the customers without intervention of the middlemen.
