Doha: Projects launched by the Ministry of Municipality and Environment (MME) to achieve self-sufficiency in some fresh food products in the country are running ahead of schedule, said a senior official.
The projects were launched under Qatar National Food Security Strategy 2018-2023 to increase production of local vegetables and table eggs to 70 percent, fish to 90 percent, shrimp to 100 percent and production of red meat to 30 percent of total domestic demand by 2023.
“The Ministry has been implementing National Food Security Strategy which shows great achievements. We have achieved 100 self-sufficiency in producing fresh chicken ahead of the deadline given by the strategy,” Director of Food Security Department at MME, Masoud Jarallah Al Marri, told The Peninsula.
He said self-sufficiency rate in producing fresh vegetables reached 45 percent under the strategy, which eyes to take it to 70 percent by 2023. “There is still two years of time to meet the target,” said Al Marri.
Speaking about table eggs, he said: “Licences have been issued to launch the projects for producing table eggs. Most of the projects are in final stage. Great stride is expected in the next year when these projects will be commenced to meet 70 percent demand of table eggs in the local market, as targeted by the strategy.”
To a question about the red meat, he said, a number of projects have been launched for cattle fattening — goats and sheep.
“Plots of land have been allocated and handed over to the developers for new projects. Now licensing procedures are going on. Under the strategy, we target to produce red meat to take 30 percent share of the local market,” Al Marri added. He said the remaining 70 percent of the demand will be met by imports.
To achieve self-sufficiency in fish and shrimp, Al Marri said a project was launched to produce fish on floating cages.
“Another project for producing shrimps is under licencing process. Now we are reviewing the success of the first fish project to open door for other similar projects to meet the target.”
He said National Food Security Strategy is being implemented in coordination with the authorities concerned like the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
“The strategy is run by the Food Security Department at MME with members from all ministries. Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) is developing its system in monitoring the quality of foods. Environmental sector develops specifications for imported foods, especially fresh foods and vegetables,” said Al Marri. He said GCC specifications have been implemented which helped in increasing the quality of imported foods.
