Visitors check on fruits and vegetables.
Doha: The Mahaseel Festival this year has once again demonstrated Qatar’s status as a food self-sufficient nation.
Furthermore, the impressive display of the finest local produce, including fruits, vegetables, and flowers, have drawn both domestic and foreign tourists interested in what the country has to offer in the agricultural and food sector.
This seventh edition, which began last week and runs through Saturday, January 28, has the participation of at least 28 local farms, six businesses that specialise in poultry, meat, and dairy products and nurseries. It is being held at the southern side of Katara Cultural Village, and opens from 9am to 9pm.
In addition to the wide range of farm and food products, there are creative activities for kids, including workshops where they may sketch and colour and awareness lecture on the importance of agriculture, kiddie and train rides are likewise available.
The festival also provides food items such as honey products and dates.
Qatari farms participating in the 10-day festival said this edition is a huge success as a large turnout of visitors has been witnessed since the day one, especially during weekends.
Ali Ahmed Al Kaabi, owner of the Global Farm, said they have been participating in the festival since it was first launched.
“What distinguishes this festival is that the produce comes to the shops an hour or two after they are picked, and this is of course what the consumer is looking for.”
Over the years, Mahaseel has served as the ideal market which showcases the best of the country’s produce and offers residents and tourists the freshest goods that are obtained just a few hours away from the farms.
Date products displayed at Mahaseel festival.
And the top quality of products and competitive prices have been commended by the public who have been coming to the festival for years.
Nabil Muhammad, a tourist from Kuwait said the festival is astounding and offers a wide variety of options of vegetables, fruits, flowers. He also said that Mahaseel has emerged as a family-friendly festival.
“I like the design of the festival and the seedlings and flowers that make you feel as if you are in a garden or orchard while you are buying vegetables and fruits.”
Flowers, ornamental plants and food items are also a big hit at the festival.
Melchor from the Philippines who’s been coming to the festival for three years since he came to Qatar said he has been a fan of Mahaseel because of the fresh quality produce it offers.
“With this good weather, it’s a pleasant to visit the festival and buy the freshly-picked products right from the farms, it’s relatively cheaper to buy fresh goods here.”
Once the festival will conclude on January 28, the Mahaseel Market will continue during weekends (Thursday, Friday and Saturday), until April. The public can either use a private vehicle, taxi or Metro when going to Mahaseel, via Metro, drop-off at Al Qassar Metro station (Red line).
