Like many other GCC countries, agriculture in Qatar used to revolve around oases and some desert areas, especially in the north. Qatar benefited from the relatively increased rainfall rates, groundwater, surface water, springs, and other water sources, as well as scattered agricultural practices that were in harmony with the region’s climate.
Over time, Qatar has increased its focus on both plant and animal agriculture. This vital sector receives close attention from the government and unlimited support from the wise leadership, recognizing it as a pillar of development.
Amid the challenges of climate change and its associated crises, such as food shortages, many countries are striving to secure their food security. Qatar has successfully achieved significant accomplishments in the development of its agricultural sector, thanks to the visionary leadership of HH the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani. He has prioritized the development of natural resources, particularly agriculture, as a national priority, aiming for self-sufficiency and food security. This includes the adoption of policies, strategies, and innovative techniques to serve both agricultural and environmental sustainability.
The State of Qatar also sets its sights on promoting optimal investment in technology, research and development, and food control, as they are essential foundations for raising the volume and quality of agricultural, animal and fishery production in safe and sustainable ways, in line with the objectives of the States National Development Strategy, which is to increase the proportion of local livestock production to 30 percent and Fish to 65 percent, in a step in support of Qatar National Vision 2030, which consolidates Qatars leadership as an advanced country capable of achieving sustainable development and providing a decent living for its people and residents of its land.
Underpinned by well-thought-out policies and ambitious plans and strategies, the recent period has witnessed the concerted efforts of all relevant entities in Qatar, with the Ministry of Municipality at the forefront, to drive agricultural production forward in order to achieve the desired food security. These efforts have led to significant successes and important breakthroughs.
The Ministry has provided various means to support and assist agricultural producers, including the distribution of agricultural support materials such as greenhouses, beehives, and agricultural production necessities like seeds, fertilizers, pesticides, and marketing packages. Livestock breeders are supported with concentrated feed and livestock production necessities, such as milking machines and wool shearing equipment. Additionally, municipal poultry vaccinations, fishers, and fisheries have received support.
Qatar’s efforts to develop the agricultural sector and increase self-sufficiency rates in various local agricultural products have had a positive impact. Qatar ranked first in the Arab world and twenty-fourth globally in the 2021 Global Food Security Index, jumping 13 places. This achievement reflects the country’s continuous efforts in the field of food security, especially as Qatar’s National Food Security Strategy 2018-2023 focuses on enhancing national food production, diversifying import sources, and establishing a strategic reserve to balance food stocks. The state has also sought to develop food and agricultural policies, infrastructure, and placed significant emphasis on food security research, establishing a fund for agricultural and food research, and intensifying efforts to adapt to climate change, conserve various resources, and utilize renewable energy in the agricultural sector.
The new National Food Security Strategy 2024-2030, to be implemented starting at the end of April next year, focuses on elements such as sustainability, reliance on modern technology, innovation in the agricultural sector, and increasing agricultural production during the summer season through the adoption of modern agricultural techniques.
In this context, Director of the Food Security Department at the Ministry of Municipality Dr. Masoud Jarallah Al Marri, highlighted significant achievements in terms of self-sufficiency rates for essential food products such as meat, vegetables, fish, table eggs, and animal feed nearing the end of the National Food Security Strategy 2018-2023.
Dr. Al Marri said that self-sufficiency rates for essential food products have significantly improved, largely attributed to the enhancement of local production, a key strategic target. It is one of the main pillars of the National Food Security Strategy 2018-2023, which aimed to increase local production of rapidly perishable agricultural food products to avoid disruption in supply chains and achieve food security for the country.
He noted that the strategy focused on specific commodities, including greenhouse vegetables, dairy and its derivatives, fresh poultry, red meat, table eggs, and the production of green animal feed using treated water.
Dr. Al Marri also highlighted that the self-sufficiency rate for fresh fish has also increased by up to 25 percent, reaching 84 percent compared to approximately 67 percent in 2018. Self-sufficiency in other targeted commodities has also seen varying increases. For instance, self-sufficiency in greenhouse vegetables has reached 42 percent, compared to around 32 percent in 2018, while self-sufficiency in table eggs has reached 37 percent, compared to approximately 24 percent in 2018.
Dr. Al Marri further mentioned that several new table egg production projects are expected to start production by the end of this year, covering about 40 percent of local consumption. This will raise the self-sufficiency rate for table eggs to approximately 77 percent. (MORE)
Source: Qatar News Agency