DOHA: The Qatar Meat and Livestock Company, popularly known as Mawashi, is all set to enter the poultry business in a big way with the company awaiting official nod to launch a mega poultry project in the country.
Once the project is implemented, which is likely sooner rather than later, its production can be expected to fully meet local requirements for chicken and other poultry products, including eggs.
The Qatari market is currently facing a severe shortage of fresh chicken due to a ban imposed by Saudi Arabia which is a larger exporter of poultry products
to Qatar.
It is understood that Mawashi, a listed entity which manages and operates the central livestock market, has completed an extensive feasibility study on the proposed poultry project and has applied to the government for the necessary approvals.
The company, it is learned, conducted a market study and found that local poultry products, including chicken, meet only 30 percent of the requirements of the Qatari market, while the remaining need is met through imports.
The findings of the study prompted Mawashi to gear up to diversify into poultry business in a big way.
To test the ground and have a feel of the market, the company has decided to import frozen chicken from Bulgaria on an experimental basis, it is learned.
The company is apparently of the opinion that is the right time to test the market since there is a severe shortage of fresh chicken which has led to a rise in the demand for frozen stocks.
The prices of all varieties of chicken are expected to shoot up due to the shortage and price escalations in the international market. Although frozen chicken prices remain stable until now, promotional sales of some of the currently available popular brands have ceased.
Bulgarian chicken is of good quality and slaughtered in an Islamic way (Halal).
Mawashi expects the first consignment of frozen chicken from Bulgaria to arrive here very soon.
While fresh chicken is short in supply, some shopping outlets are now selling fresh quail produced in local farms, though there are not many takers, probably due to the high prices. A 800-gramme pack of quail is on offer at QR27.
The Peninsula
