The Assistant Undersecretary of General Affairs at the Ministry of Municipality and Environment, Sheikh Faleh bin Nasser Al Thani, with Executive Director of Global Dryland Alliance, Ambassador Bader Omar Al Dafa, and other officials and guests, touring a
The Ministry of Municipality and Environment (MME) opened yesterday the 2019 International Dates Exhibition with the participation of 150 local and intentional exhibitors from nine countries in a large tent at Souq Waqif.
A number of varieties of dates from Oman, Kuwait, Jordan, Palestine, Iran and North Africa and other countries are being showcased at the exhibition at competitive prices. The exhibition will run till May 4 from 9am to 9pm daily.
The opening ceremony was attended by Assistant Undersecretary for Agriculture and Fisheries Affairs at MME, Sheikh Dr Faleh bin Nasser Al Thani; Director of Agricultural Affairs Department, Youssef Khalid Al Khulaifi; Executive Secretary of the Committee for Monitoring the Implementation of Food Security Policies in the Public and Private Sector of Qatar, Masoud Jarullah Al Marri; and Executive Director of Global Dryland Alliance (GDA), Ambassador Bader Omar Al Dafa. The exhibition aims at introducing the dates and their products and enhancing the cultural and heritage awareness associated with the palm tree and the importance of its fruits in terms of food and culture.
Demand for dates increases during the holy month of Ramadan. Director of Agricultural Affairs Department Youssef Khalid Al Khulaifi said that the exhibition comes days before the beginning of the holy month of Ramadan to provide this important commodity for citizens and residents of Qatar.
Al Khulaifi pointed out that the exhibition provides prices which are affordable for all. He said the organising committee took steps to reduce prices, including the provision of free display areas, in addition to the facilities provided by the sponsors at the level of shipping procedures and the visitors residency. Al Khulaifi added that the country has achieved self-sufficiency in dates by 86 percent, and that the Ministry organises periodic exhibitions to market local dates. He said that under a programme of marketing local dates to support the farmers, the Ministry bought dates worth QR10m from 80 local farms and gave to Qatar Red Crescent Society and Qatar Charity to distribute to needy people in poor countries.
Al Khulaifi pointed out that the Ministry will start this year special support for farmers by providing 100 date drying facilities which will be distributed free of charge to major producers of dates, adding that years of research proved the effectiveness of those rooms in improving the quality of date products.
