Regarding the second part of the agricultural sector, the livestock production, Director of the Livestock Department in the Ministry of Municipality Eng. Abdulaziz Mahmoud Al Ziyara, said in an exclusive statement to the Qatar News Agency that livestock is a renewable natural resource that the administration works on nurturing and developing its breeding activities.
He added, in a related context, that the state has focused in various sectors on ensuring the continuity of this activity and transforming it from a socially consumed activity into a profitable economic activity that contributes to its food security. He pointed out that through the collaboration between the government and the private sector, represented by breeders and producers, the livestock sector has made a significant contribution to increasing Qatar’s self-sufficiency rates in animal products, ranking Qatar first in the Arab world and 24th globally in the Global Food Security Index.
Al Ziyara revealed that the total livestock in Qatar reached 1,320,625 head, with the number of camels being 106,972 head, accounting for 8 percent of the country’s livestock. Cattle numbered 41,575, making up 3 percent of the total livestock, while goats numbered 358,137, constituting 27 percent of the total livestock. The number of sheep reached 813,941, accounting for 62 percent of the country’s total livestock. There are 8,151 registered livestock breeders in the ministry’s records.
Eng. Al Ziyara explained that livestock farming in the country is regulated in farms and enclosures. The number of mixed farms (engaging in livestock farming in addition to agricultural activities) reached 647 farms, while the total number of licensed enclosures (traditional animal holdings without agricultural activity) is 6,795 enclosures (mobile enclosures + enclosures outside the planning + complex enclosures). The licensed enclosures in 9 complexes reached 4,987 enclosures.
Recognizing the importance of expanding fish farming projects, the Ministry of Municipality established the Aquatic Research Center in Ras Matbakh, which is one of the important production research centers supporting the aquaculture sector in the country. Furthermore, acknowledging the significant role of the private sector in achieving comprehensive economic development and food security in the country, the ministry has proposed several agricultural investment projects, including the establishment of concentrated feed factories, organic fertilizer production, sheep breeding and fattening, among others, which has significantly increased productivity.
The ministry has also been organizing annual international agricultural exhibitions to exchange expertise and learn about the latest agricultural production products and innovative techniques globally, contributing to the support of the agricultural sector. In addition, it has launched several marketing programs for Qatari agricultural products, such as the Qatari Agricultural Product Market, Special Vegetables Programs, Qatar Farms, the Advance Contracting Program with Farmers, and the Daily Supply Program in collaboration with Crop Company, all aimed at enhancing the value of local vegetable products.
Among the agricultural and green initiatives is the one concerned with planting one million trees, reflecting the importance of sustainability as one of the main topics to be addressed at Expo 2023 Doha, scheduled to launch in October next year. Additionally, the ministry is implementing the Agricultural Census project, conducting various applied research, tissue culture farming, developing enclosure complexes, studying the impact of treated water on animal feed production, improving agricultural services, and implementing digital transformation and agricultural digitization projects, among others.
All government plans, strategies, and initiatives related to the agriculture sector and the support provided by the state have contributed to a significant increase in production in recent years. This increase, along with the expansion of cultivated areas and the localization of agricultural facilities, has enhanced local production by utilizing advanced crop production techniques suitable for local climate conditions, resulting in a clear increase in self-sufficiency rates in essential food commodities.
Source: Qatar News Agency