Qatar considers its agricultural sector a key driver of economic diversification and sustainable development. The agriculture sector in Qatar is progressing with a strong emphasis on technology, sustainability, and food security. The country has intensified its food security measures by broadening its strategic storage reserves, diversifying import sources, and expanding international investments. The National Food Security Strategy 2030 has introduced mechanisms to enhance the country’s resilience. At the core of the strategy lies the expansion of the storage capacity through three distinct categories of reserves.
The first category focuses on basic commodities such as wheat and rice, stored in volumes sufficient to cover up to eight months of national consumption. The second is dedicated to emergency and disaster supplies, maintained to provide swift response. The third category comprises agricultural inputs, including seeds and fertilisers, which are indispensable for maintaining uninterrupted domestic production.
The nation has developed a sustainable and resilient food system that adapts to global challenges to ensure safe and sustainable food supplies. The strategy launched in December last year aims to achieve food security through guiding principles, including promoting healthy consumption habits, ensuring food safety and quality, fostering sustainability, adapting to climate change and building effective partnerships.
The strategy represents a significant step in strengthening Qatar’s ability to address current and future food security challenges. It aims at making Qatar 55% self-sufficient in local vegetable production and increasing the productivity of agricultural lands by 50%, boosting the local production of red meat and fish to 30% and 80% respectively by 2030, and achieving 100% self-sufficiency in dairy and fresh chicken production. Qatar made remarkable achievements in fresh food production over the last few years. There are over 950 agricultural productive farms operating across the country. The new strategy, which includes 17 initiatives, aims to achieve sustainable food security.
The Third National Development Strategy (NSD3) launched in 2024 seeks to develop sustainable agricultural technologies, boost local production and promote efficient resource utilisation to strengthen food security. The country is committed to supporting local farmers through targeted initiatives and agricultural support programmes.
These measures have significantly increased the volume and quality of local agricultural production, elevating the standing of Qatari crops in the market.
Qatar has achieved significant achievements in food security over the past years in many basic food products, most notably self-sufficiency in the production of fresh dairy products and poultry.
