HE the Minister of Municipality of Environment Abdullah bin Abdulaziz bin Turki al-Subaie yesterday praised Qatari farms for bringing about a qualitative shift in agricultural production in the country. 

The minister also hailed the use of the latest agricultural technologies while visiting some local farms. He stressed this has had a great impact in terms of increasing agricultural production, providing the needs of the local market and enhancing the level of self-sufficiency in the field of vegetable production, the Ministry of Municipality of Environment (MME) said in a statement.

The visits came in connection with the third anniversary of the blockade and as part of the MME’s keenness to follow up on the efforts of Qatari farms contributing to the development of the country’s agricultural sector.  

The minister, who is the chairman of the committee to follow up on the implementation of food security policies in the government and private sectors, visited a number of productive Qatari farms with the aim of ascertaining the situation of farms during the blockade and the ongoing Covid-19 crisis. 

The visits were aimed at identifying the challenges faced in the development of the agricultural sector, the statement noted.

The production of local vegetables increased from about 55,000 tonnes in 2017 before the blockade to more than about 91,000 tonnes last year, according to the MME.

HE al-Subaie was briefed by farm owners during the visits. They discussed the obstacles and challenges facing agricultural production as well as the proposals that could help overcome these challenges and contribute to the further development and promotion of the agricultural sector. He also listened to the proposals of the owners regarding the development of agricultural support mechanisms as well as marketing operations.

In the end, the minister expressed happiness and appreciated the accompanying delegation for the efforts exerted as well as the production boom experienced by these farms. He hailed the role of the private sector in this regard and its involvement, as a partner, in helping achieve the desired food security goals in Qatar.

He also stressed the keenness of all state institutions to provide the necessary support for the continued development and growth of the agricultural sector to achieve food security in the country.

The minister was accompanied by Mohamed bin Towar al-Kuwari, Qatar Chamber first vice-chairman and member of the committee to follow up the implementation of food security policies in the government and private sectors; Mubarak bin Nasser al-Khalifa, director of the office of the Minister; Yousuf Khalid al-Khulaifi, director of the MME Agricultural Affairs Department; and Masoud Jarallah al-Marri, director of the MME Food Security Department.