DOHA: With the success and encouraging results of the newly-opened fresh vegetable markets in Umm Salal and Al Khor, the Ministry of Environment is planning to open more similar facilities in different parts of the country, including one in Al Wakra, to market locally-produced vegetables, a local Arabic daily reported yesterday.
The Ministry recently opened two vegetable markets — Mazrouh yard in Umm Salal and Al Khor-Al Dhakira yard — that offer fresh vegetables directly sourced from local farms for sale at highly competitive prices, usually cheaper than the prevailing prices at the Central Market.
The daily reported that concerned authorities are looking for appropriate plots of land at strategic locations in different parts of the country so that the facilities can cater to the maximum number of people.
Qatar, as part of its efforts to achieve food security, intends to meet 40 to 50 percent of its requirements for livestock and agricultural products through local produce over the next three to five years.
“The idea for opening dedicated market for local produce is very successful. Although with the summer approaching local supplies have started declining, but during the first two weeks of April the market witnessed the sale of over 9,600 boxes of vegetables and about 23.1 tonnes of fruits (imported),” Mohammed Al Najjar, Supervisor at the Al Khor-Al Dhakira yard was quoted by the daily as saying.
The authorities are also looking forward to include stalls for fresh fish, poultry and livestock, including setting up a slaughter house — fixed or mobile — in the new markets if there is a need.
Both the vegetable yards open three days a week — Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays — from 7am to 5pm until the end of the harvest season.
According to the report, these markets are expected to close by mid-May for this season, and anticipated to reopen by early January.
The Peninsula
