The Agricultural Affairs Department at the Ministry of Municipality and Environment (MME) has announced to open Winter Vegetable Markets seven days in a week from 7am to 3pm.
Earlier, the markets opened only during weekends from Thursday to Saturday. The winter vegetable markets are operating in Al Sheehaniya, Al Mazrouha, Al Wakrah, Al Khor-Al Zakhira and Al Shamal.
“The winter vegetable markets (yards for selling local agricultural produce) will remain open throughout the week for customers and retailers from 7am to 3pm,” said General Supervisor of winter vegetable markets at MME, Abdurrahman Al Sulaiti, while talking to The Peninsula.
He said that the new decision, which came into effect from March 15 will help increase the sale of local vegetables at the markets.
“The markets offer all local vegetables in large quantity including cucumber, zucchini, eggplants, pumpkin, leafy vegetables and herbs like spinach and coriander among many more at competitive prices,” said Al Sulaiti.
He said that the vendors were asked to follow the instructions to curb the spread of COVID-19 like maintaining personal hygiene and healthy work environment as well extra measures were taken to assure general cleanliness of the market.
“Samples of vegetables are being taken to the laboratory to test the quality on regular basis,” said Al Sulaiti.
“We received instruction from the supervisory committee of winter vegetable markets to open the outlet throughout the week,” said Mohamad Iqbal, a vendor at Al Mazrouha Market.
He said that the market received large number of customers during weekend, expecting an increase in the number of customers gradually in other days.
A total of 150 local agricultural farms, 40 livestock farms and 12 fishermen are participating with their produce in the markets.
According to the Ministry, the Winter Vegetable Markets sold 7,288 tonnes vegetables in 2018-19 compared to 7,269 tonnes in 2017-18. Over 31 percent of total local agricultural produce was sold through the marketing platforms provided by the MME and winter vegetable markets shared 11 percent of the total sales.
The markets aim to provide reasonable prices to local farmers for their investments and hard-work enabling them to offer their produce directly to the customers. The good yield also encourages local farms to increase their products by cultivating in free spaces at their farms and setting up greenhouses.
The MME supports the markets to offer all agricultural products at competitive prices to attract the customers. Local farms participating in the seasonal markets are offering fresh products in large quantity.
The farmers with the support increased their products significantly. The MME provided many marketing platforms for the local products within the system of government support and it provides inputs for the production of farmers.
The farmers received seeds, fertilizers, boxes and labels for marketing free of charge, and others forms of support.
