Director of the Food Security Department at the Ministry of Municipality: The agricultural product yards continue to operate during the holy month

With the beginning of the holy month of Ramadan, the local markets are witnessing a great demand from citizens and residents to buy commodities, food products, and the requirements of the holy month, amidst a diversity that has become evident in the local market, which allows the consumer to choose between commodities in terms of prices and quality, and to choose what suits him from them. Among these food commodities that citizens and residents accept are agricultural products, the rate of consumption of which increases during seasons and holidays. This increase was matched by an increase in the national production of vegetables during the past few years, according to figures issued by the concerned authorities. In this context, Dr. Masoud Jarallah Al-Marri, Director of the Food Security Department at the Ministry of Municipality, said in a statement to Qatar News Agency (QNA) that the agricultural production in the State of Qatar covers most of the local market needs of some main varieties of vegetables such as cucumbers and tomatoes, and agricultural production reaches its peak during The months of March and April, which coincides with the month of Ramadan this year, and therefore local vegetables will be present in the local markets in abundance during the holy month to cover most of the local demand. The Director of the Food Security Department added that the holy month of Ramadan usually witnesses an increase in the volume of vegetable consumption compared to the rest of the year, and the local demand for some varieties of Qatari vegetables increases during the month of Ramadan, as they are fresh and of high quality. The agricultural sector at the Ministry of Municipality works to coordinate with producing farms in the country to increase the areas planted with vegetables in the agricultural loops that are produced during the month of Ramadan, to contribute to covering the needs of consumers of vegetables during this period of the year. In this regard, Dr. Masoud Jarallah Al-Marri indicated that the Qatari agricultural sector has made a big leap in its path to achieving food security. The production of vegetables increased from 55 thousand tons in 2017 to reach about 97 thousand tons in 2022, an increase of 76 percent. He explained that in order to support the productive Qatari farms in marketing their products directly and to ensure that consumers obtain their needs of fresh local vegetables, the agricultural product yards will continue to operate during the blessed month of Ramadan, noting that the Qatari agricultural product yards are considered one of the most important marketing programs launched by the agricultural sector. The Ministry of Municipality put it forward in recent years. The Ministry has opened 5 yards for the Qatari agricultural product in the areas of Al Mazroua, Al Khor, Al Thakhira, Al Wakra, Al Shamal and Al Sheehaniya. The idea of ​​the yards is to provide an opportunity for the Qatari agricultural producer to market his own production without an intermediary, which contributes to reducing marketing costs to the lowest possible extent, as well as reducing vegetable waste. Reports indicate that Qatar’s production of some vegetables exceeds domestic consumption rates, in addition to that the local market needs about two thousand tons of cucumbers and about 5-6 thousand tons of tomatoes per month, and these needs are secured through Qatari farms during the agricultural seasons. . The demand during the month of Ramadan is witnessing an increase by outlets and shops for local vegetables, as they have become completely dependent on them, especially during the winter season, by 100 percent, as these products now fully cover consumer demand. It is noteworthy that the Qatar National Food Security Strategy 2018-2023, which is entering its final year, focused on four main pillars: international trade and logistics, domestic self-sufficiency, strategic reserves, and enabling factors: local markets. The Ministry of Municipality is currently working on preparing a strategic plan for food security for the agricultural sector until 2030, which will include goals, areas of development, initiatives and outputs, and will be shared with the private sector. In addition, the Ministry is working to launch an initiative to develop agricultural services and implement digital transformation projects in the sector, agricultural digitization, and a digital farmer community, which would raise efficiency and support decision-making for this currently vital sector of the country.