Qatar to achieve 50-70% veg self-sufficiency
Hamad Hadi Al Hajri said yesterday that by the target year Qatar will be able to produce all kinds of vegetables by using modern technology, the one which is compatible with the Qatari climate and greenhouse based and does not need water.
Al Hajri is board member of Zulal Oasis, a subsidiary Hassad Food Company.
Set up in 2013, Zulal inked a deal with a Spanish company to provide a technology of vegetable production that suited Qatar. Since 2013, the technology has been tried and used in Qatar in two seasons. Zulal has a greenhouse in Al Shahaniya which in future can be used as a laboratory or a training facility, said Al Hajri.
He said Zulal will only provide technical support to the private sector to invest in agricultural production and had no intent of competing with private players.
It has been successful in producing a record 44kg of tomatoes in a space of 1sqm in its greenhouse. Also, based on production in the model greenhouse project, vegetable production on average can reach up to 37kg per sqm.
This pilot research and development project aims to overcome the challenges facing the local agriculture sector such as, high temperature and humidity and lack of ground water as well as arable lands. Farmers using the integrated production system developed by Zulal Oasis will be able to produce high quality vegetables throughout the year, regardless of the season.
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