DOHA: Father Emir H H Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani visited recently the Local Dates Festival 2016 at Souq Waqif.
More than 17 tonnes of dates were sold during the first six days of the festival which opened on July 28 and continues until August 14.
According to a statement issued from the Ministry of Municipality and Environment, 17,637kg of dates were sold during the first six days of the 18-day festival.
The festival is also offering seedlings at a very low price and 825 were sold during the first six days.
Many people are visiting the festival daily to know more about seedlings of the most popular varieties of dates such as khanizi, khalas, shishi, barhi and arziz.
There is also a huge demand for such varieties of dates, whose prices are double in the markets compared to those at the festival.
Eighteen farms are participating in the festival, in addition to two companies and the number could rise if demand increases, said an official at the ministry.
The festival is organised by the ministry in collaboration with Souq Waqif.
The Peninsula
