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The Star
2 days ago
- Business
- The Star
Feature: From desert to delight: Qatar's dates festival highlights local farming gains
DOHA, July 27 (Xinhua) -- As midsummer heat scorches the streets of Doha, an air-conditioned covered square at Souq Waqif -- one of Doha's oldest heritage landmarks -- offers not only respite from the blazing sun but also a glimpse into the transformation of Qatar's agricultural sector. Beneath the tent at the 10th Local Dates Festival, rows of rutab (freshly harvested dates) are stacked high, showcasing the progress of local farming. The annual festival, running from July 24 to Aug. 7 and featuring 116 farms from across the country, reflects the rapid growth of the event since its inaugural edition in 2016, with just 19 participants. "It has truly become a yearly tradition," said Adel Zain Alkaldi Alyafei, assistant director of the Agricultural Affairs Department at the Ministry of Municipality. He highlighted the anticipation among residents and citizens in Qatar who eagerly await the festival. "By June, people are already asking: When is the rutab festival?" he added. The total sales from last year's edition exceeded 240 tonnes, nearly 10 times the output when the event first began, indicating Qatar's broader agricultural transformation, particularly in the production of rutab. The achievement is impressive given Qatar's challenging geography. Located in a tropical desert zone, Qatar contends with extreme heat, limited rainfall, and scarce arable land. According to the Ministry of Municipality, Qatar now meets more than 75 percent of its domestic dates demand through local production, a major milestone in its drive toward food security and self-sufficiency. Key to this turnaround has been sustained government support. The ministry provides agricultural inputs such as fertilizers and pest control permits, along with logistical services. Just as crucial are exclusive marketing channels like the local dates festival, which allow farmers to sell directly to consumers. "This festival is considered a marketing outlet for farm owners to sell their local products without any competition," said Alyafei. "Everything inside this tent is local produce." For many people, particularly in Arab countries, dates are more than a summer fruit due to their nutritional value, being rich in fiber, potassium, and antioxidants, as well as their deep cultural and religious significance for Muslims. Dates are especially favored during Ramadan as they are traditionally eaten to break the fast, often accompanied by water or milk. Visitors to the festival praised the variety and quality on offer. "We have tasted and purchased all the varieties available in the exhibition. We liked them all, and we advise everyone in Qatar to visit," said one Indian family. Another visitor, Ahmed Al-Masri, added, "My family and I wait for this rutab festival every year. We buy for ourselves and send to our families. We prefer the Qatari local dates as they are always fresh and sweet." The festival also aligns with Qatar's National Food Security Strategy 2030, which aims to promote sustainable agriculture, reduce reliance on imports, and strengthen local food systems.
Zawya
10-03-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Qatar: Agricultural Affairs Department at Ministry of Municipality Assistant Director to QNA: Local Farmer's Markets See Growing Demand
Doha: Assistant Director of the Agricultural Affairs Department at the Ministry of Municipality, Adel Al Yafei, said that the growing demand for local products during Ramadan at local produce sale yards reflects consumers' high level of satisfaction and growing trust in these marketplaces, as key sources for fresh vegetables and local products. Speaking to Qatar News Agency (QNA), Al Yafei said that these yards or farmer's markets have underwent significant development and gained traction since their establishment in 2012, especially as service and product quality were improved. He said that local produce sale yards reduce the number of intermediaries, provide competitive prices, preserve produce's nutritional value, increase farmers' profitability by up to 40 percent, as well as enabling a sustainable and flexible diet, supporting local production, and promoting local produce. Al Yafei said that Ramadan this year occurs in March, the peak of agricultural production in Qatar, adding that local produce sale yards' opening hours during Ramadan are as follows: Farmer's markets at Al Khor, Al Dhakira, Al Shamal, Al Wakrah, and Al Shahania are open from 19:00 to 23:00 on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays, whereas Al Mazrouah farmer's market in Umm Salal central market is open daily from 06:00 to 23:00. He noted a number of initiatives to regulate prices during Ramadan to ensure that products are attainable at a reasonable price for all, with coordination with relevant authorities being underway to ensure that farm owners adhere to the fixed price list while maintaining product quality, thus, striking a balance between the interests of producers and consumers. The Assistant Director of the Agricultural Affairs Department at the Ministry of Municipality also pointed to an initiative held in cooperation with Hifz Al Naema Center to distribute local vegetables to low-income families, in addition to providing marketing outlets for low-income, home-based businesses within these sale yards. Al Yafei said that these farmer's markets are currently located in areas of high agricultural output, indicating expansion plans to cover more areas, thus, benefiting both farmers and consumers. Regarding the Ministry of Municipality's support for farmers currently, he said that it is providing them with free sales outlets through the farmer's markets, along with technical and advisory support to help them improve product quality and marketing, in addition to providing farmers with free packaging in farmer's markets, and selling oversight to ensure efficiency. The Assistant Director of the Agricultural Affairs Department at the Ministry of Municipality pointed out that these local produce sales yards play a key role in enhancing self-sufficiency by encouraging farmers to increase production and providing them with a direct marketing outlet that enhances their profitability. He added that investing in agricultural technologies and improving product quality help reduce dependence on imports and supports social cohesion and national identity by promoting the consumption of local products. Al Yafei noted that most of the challenges faced by the farmer's markets in previous seasons, such as meeting Ramadan's increased demand and ensuring the continuous supply of fresh produce, have been overcome thanks to good organization and prior planning. On food waste, which remains a significant challenge, he said that the loss rate during the marketing stage ranges between 15 to 20 percent, adding that work is underway to reduce this percentage by educating farmers on best marketing and storage practices, reducing the display period of products and distributing suitable marketing packages to ensure the best preservation of products. Concluding his remarks to QNA, Assistant Director of the Agricultural Affairs Department at the Ministry of Municipality, Adel Al Yafei, called on farmers to continue improving the quality of their produce and make the best use of the farmer's markets for further success. Moreover, he encouraged consumers to support local produce, playing a major role in enhancing food security and economic sustainability.
Zawya
10-03-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Qatar: Local farmer's markets see growing demand
Doha, Qatar: Assistant Director of the Agricultural Affairs Department at the Ministry of Municipality, Adel Al Yafei, said that the growing demand for local products during Ramadan at local produce sale yards reflects consumers' high level of satisfaction and growing trust in these marketplaces, as key sources for fresh vegetables and local products. Speaking to Qatar News Agency (QNA), Al Yafei said that these yards or farmer's markets have underwent significant development and gained traction since their establishment in 2012, especially as service and product quality were improved. He said that local produce sale yards reduce the number of intermediaries, provide competitive prices, preserve produce's nutritional value, increase farmers' profitability by up to 40 percent, as well as enabling a sustainable and flexible diet, supporting local production, and promoting local produce. Al Yafei said that Ramadan this year occurs in March, the peak of agricultural production in Qatar, adding that local produce sale yards' opening hours during Ramadan are as follows: Farmer's markets at Al Khor, Al Dhakira, Al Shamal, Al Wakrah, and Al Shahania are open from 7pm to 11pm on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays, whereas Al Mazrouah farmer's market in Umm Salal central market is open daily from 6am to 11pm. He noted a number of initiatives to regulate prices during Ramadan to ensure that products are attainable at a reasonable price for all, with coordination with relevant authorities being underway to ensure that farm owners adhere to the fixed price list while maintaining product quality, thus, striking a balance between the interests of producers and consumers. Al Yafei also pointed to an initiative held in cooperation with Hifz Al Naema Center to distribute local vegetables to low-income families, in addition to providing marketing outlets for low-income, home-based businesses within these sale yards. Al Yafei said that these farmer's markets are currently located in areas of high agricultural output, indicating expansion plans to cover more areas, thus, benefiting both farmers and consumers. Regarding the Ministry of Municipality's support for farmers currently, he said that it is providing them with free sales outlets through the farmer's markets, along with technical and advisory support to help them improve product quality and marketing, in addition to providing farmers with free packaging in farmer's markets, and selling oversight to ensure efficiency. Al Yafei pointed out that these local produce sales yards play a key role in enhancing self-sufficiency by encouraging farmers to increase production and providing them with a direct marketing outlet that enhances their profitability. He added that investing in agricultural technologies and improving product quality help reduce dependence on imports and supports social cohesion and national identity by promoting the consumption of local products. © Dar Al Sharq Press, Printing and Distribution. All Rights Reserved. Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. ( The Peninsula Newspaper
