Doha: The marketing platforms for agricultural produce provided by the Ministry of Municipality to local farms helped sell 58,500 tonnes of vegetables in 2022.
The marketing programme ‘Qatar Farms’ and Mahaseel recorded the highest sale as they sold 20,000 tonnes vegetables each, last year.
The vegetable markets also contributed greatly in selling over 14,500 tonnes vegetables in 2022. As many as 4,000 tonnes of agricultural produce were sold under ‘Premium Products’ programme.
This came in a report issued by the Ministry of Municipality on the achievements of its Agricultural Affairs Department in 2022.
The marketing platforms for agricultural produce provided by the Agricultural Department at the Ministry to local farms include five vegetable markets (Yards for Selling Agricultural Produce), two programmes at major commercial outlets and Mahaseel for Marketing and Agri. Services Company.
The marketing programmes aim at proving reasonable prices to local farmers for their investments and hard-work, enabling them to offer their produce directly to the customers.
The good yield also encourages local farms to increase their products by cultivating in free spaces at their farms and setting up greenhouses. Director of Agricultural Affairs Department at the Ministry of Municipality, Youssef Khalid Al Khulaifi, had said the Department is providing marketing platforms to local farms to sell their produce directly to consumers without any middlemen.
“The first marketing platform, Yard for Selling Agricultural Produce, was opened at Al Mazrouah in 2012, which was gradually increased to five markets. We conducted experiments by shifting seasonal vegetable market of Al Mazrouah to a permanent facility, ensuring its operations round the year,” said Al Khulaifi.
Al Khulaifi said that after successful experience of Al Mazrouh market in term of attracting a large number of consumers, the Department extended the operating hours of the yards in Al Wakrah and Al Khor from three days a week (Thursday, Friday and Saturday) to 7 days a week at the start of this season.
Now three yards (vegetable markets), which opened in November, continue their operations round the week. The remaining two markets in Al Sheehaniya and Al Shamal are operating on weekends (Thursday to Saturday) only.
Al Khulaifi said the Ministry of Municipality is also running ‘Qatar Farms’ and ‘Premium Products’ programmes, enabling local farmers to sell their produce through major commercial outlets.
Local farms are also selling their products through central markets, at the door of their farms and agricultural events and festivals organised by the Agricultural Affairs Department.
