Feature: Feeding a nation from sand -- Doha exhibition highlights self-sufficiency drive

The Star

4 days ago

DOHA, Aug. 13 (Xinhua) -- At first glance, the ongoing exhibition at the Museum of Islamic Art in Doha appears to be a simple celebration of culinary traditions.
The artifacts on display -- drawn from across the Middle East and beyond -- span more than a thousand years. Inside the quiet galleries, dining vessels from different eras are carefully arranged, while a faint aroma of spices drifts through the air. Videos of flatbread being baked and images of pastoral life play softly on the walls, creating a sense of warmth and nostalgia.
Yet the exhibition's significance extends far beyond a reflection on food and history. In a country where cultivating crops has always been a challenge, it also tells the story of Qatar's pursuit of self-sufficiency -- a drive that intensified after the 2017 diplomatic crisis.
Located in a hot desert climate with very little rainfall, Qatar has long faced limitations in developing its agricultural sector. For years, more than 90 percent of the nation's food supply depended on imports.
But a sudden blockade in 2017 caught Qatar off guard. In June that year, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Egypt announced they were severing diplomatic relations with Qatar, closing land, sea and air routes and cutting trade ties. They accused Qatar of "supporting terrorism" and "destabilizing the region" -- accusations that Qatar firmly denied.
Before the blockade, hundreds of trucks crossed the border from Saudi Arabia daily, delivering fresh fruits, vegetables, dairy products and other essentials. On June 5 that year, that flow stopped abruptly.
Although the diplomatic crisis ended with reconciliation in 2021, its psychological impact on Qataris has yet to fully fade. Many still vividly recall the scenes of supermarket shelves being emptied and import routes being urgently rerouted. This experience has, to a certain extent, fostered a stronger awareness of food security and a firmer determination toward self-sufficiency in Qatari society.
Reflecting this theme, the exhibition's final section spotlights sustainable agriculture.
Among the examples highlighted in the exhibition is Heenat Salma Farm, a diversified site on the outskirts of Doha. As climate change continues to threaten global food security, modern approaches like vertical farming, hydroponics, and precision agriculture have been adopted. These methods help conserve water, reduce energy use, and increase yields, while expanding the possibilities for local cultivation.
"The message here is a need for cultures and communities to become more self-reliant, whether due to economic or environmental demands," said the exhibition's curator Tara Desjardins.
According to Qatar's National Food Security Strategy 2030, the country aims to achieve 55 percent self-sufficiency in vegetables, 30 percent in red meat, 80 percent in fish, and full self-sufficiency in dairy and fresh poultry by 2030. It also seeks to increase agricultural land productivity by 50 percent.
Residents have also noticed more locally produced food on the shelves. "In the past, we could only buy imported vegetables," said Fadwa, a local visiting the exhibition. "Now there are more Qatari farm products. When I see the 'locally produced' label, I feel more reassured and more willing to support it," she said.