Qatar’s population has more than quadrupled since 2000. There are numerous opportunities to improve Qatar’s food reserves, implement water-conserving agricultural technologies, improve local food standards and testing, build an aquaculture industry, and develop climate-resistant crops.
The Ministry of Municipality and Environment (MME) plans to increase livestock and fish production to 30 percent and 65 percent by 2023 through the National Food Security Strategy. According to reports, the Qatar agriculture market is projected to register a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.3% during the forecast period, 2021-2026.
The increase in the adoption of advanced farming technologies and conducive government policies supporting domestic crop production are some of the factors driving the agricultural market growth in the country. The MME and Qatar Free Zones Authority (QFZA) recently signed an MoU to strengthen cooperation and facilitate the development of a business cluster in Qatar Free Zones dedicated to advanced agriculture technology and the food industry. This step comes in line with Qatar’s strategy to achieve food security, promote economic diversification, and empower the private sector.
Also, the government’s marketing programmes have boosted the presence of local products in the market. Initiatives like the “Distinguished Product” and “Qatar Farms,” have enabled Qatari produce to be sold at reasonable prices without intermediaries. The farmers are not charged any commissions on their wares.
Yesterday, the Director of Agriculture Affairs Department at the MME, Yusuf Khalid Al Khulaifi, while marking the Arab Agriculture Day themed ‘towards resilient agriculture and food systems responsive to changes,’ said:
“The agricultural sector plans are working to bring about a real change in the agricultural economic structure via diversifying the production base by increasing local production.”
Al Khulaifi stated that with a focus on the optimal use and preservation of natural resources, improving economic and marketing efficiency, and raising the quality of local production of crops that meet the aspirations of consumers, achieves environmental balance, and prepares the agricultural sector to deal flexibly and efficiently with local, regional and international developments are strong indicators and strategies of Qatar’s agricultural renaissance. Al Khulaifi also disclosed that the MME has encouraged transforming farms from traditional irrigation systems to modern systems through an agreement with Qatar Development Bank. This deal grant farms soft loans to install modern irrigation systems, with interest ranging between 1.0-1.5 percent only, to be repaid over eight years.
Government efforts to boost food security through expanded agricultural production despite being an arid environment, innovative technologies in water production, crop quality, and optimizing resources have put the country on the road to achieving food security and sustainable production.
