Qatar, represented by the Ministry of Municipality and Environment (MME), has exceeded its target in achieving self-sufficiency regarding various fresh food products in 2019. The achievement of the target of 2019 set under the National Strategy for Food Security 2019-23 is seen as a big step by the country towards realisation of food self-sufficiency goals.
At the same time, Qatar has maintained the first Arab position in the indicators of achieving food security, and it jumped to 13th place globally after it was ranked 22nd in 2018, according to the World Food Security Index issued in December 2019. The index is based on three sub-indicators including consumer’s ability to afford food, food availability, and food safety and quality.
Assistant Undersecretary for Agriculture and Fisheries Affairs at MME Sheikh Dr. Falih bin Nasser Al Thani said that the Agriculture and Fisheries Affairs Sector launched many projects last year which helped increasing agricultural produce significantly raising the self-sufficiency in a number of products.
Sheikh Dr. Falih was speaking at a press conference at the headquarters of the Agriculture and Fisheries Affairs Sector to announce the outcomes of the implementation of the National Strategic Plan for Food Security 2019-23. “In 2019, the Ministry launched 10 projects for producing vegetables in greenhouses with a total capacity of 21,000 tonnes vegetables a year,” said Falih.
Director of Agriculture Affairs Department, Yusuf Khalid Al Khulaifi, said that the MME supported farmers in installing many greenhouses some of which had begun the production. He said that the Ministry aimed to set up 3,500 greenhouses on an area of 110 hectares with the production capacity of 10,000 tonnes and contributing an increase of 15 percent vegetables production.
Source: thepeninsulaqatar.com
