The term food security gained much attention in the recent years with the rapid growth of global population and the challenges that have come up from global warming and other unfavourable climate factors in the way to feed them.
According to a recent report, about 9.8 billion people will inhabit the planet by 2050. This figure raises major concerns on food security and it also places big responsibility tests on the shoulders of global nations.
The term food security is defined as “the access for all people at all times to enough food for a healthy and active life”. The feed could be either imported or locally produced. On the contrary, food self-sufficiency means meeting the consumption needs from indigenous production rather than importing or buying from other sources. By taking into account the volatility of food prices, possible interruption in supplies and other risky factors, global experts request all nations to focus on self-sufficiency on food than food security.
Qatar enjoys food security and the nation now harnesses all its energies to achieve its food self-sufficiency targets. Under the wise leadership of Amir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Qatar has been making full use of all its resources to achieve this.
In order to make this a reality, the Ministry of Municipality and Environment (MME) announced recently the launch of 34 new strategic agricultural investment projects for vegetable production using modern farming technologies including greenhouses.
These projects will be carried out in phases, and an area of about 100,000sqm will be allocated for each project. The aim of these projects is to stimulate fresh vegetable production in order to achieve the highest possible level of self-sufficiency. Despite siege on Qatar, the vegetable production sector achieved a clear leap with using modern technology.
In yet another milestone, the Bureau International des Expositions has officially approved Qatar hosting the Horticultural Expo 2021 from March 17 to October 14, 2021.
It is very important to consider Horticultural Expo 2021 Doha as an incentive to increase the establishment of gardens, development of horticulture and cultivation of plants, flowers and trees in a harsh climate in terms of heat, salinity and drought. It will be the first gardening exhibition in the Middle East and North African region and will face the urgent challenges of desertification and sustainability at a time when global climate change is under way.
The ‘Sustainable Strategic Plan-2018-22’of the MME also focuses on food self-sufficiency and the nation’s celebration of ‘World Food Day’ underlines its commitment towards the cause.
In fact, by rising from a position that depended on other nations for all its food needs towards absolute self-sufficiency, Qatar was showcasing to the world a path of sheer determination, willpower and self-confidence.
