DOHA: Many agricultural farms in the country for which the government provided land on long-lease at a nominal rent, are being misused by their owners for other purposes in violation of the law.
Some farmhouses have become hideouts of runaway workers, while automobile workshops have been opened in others. There are still others which some companies are using as labour camps for their workers.
Then, there are those where small factories have been set up and some even have photo studios and gymnasiums on them.
Some farms along roads can even be seen having restaurants and cafeterias on them.
Local Arabic daily Al Arab reported yesterday carrying photographs of some farms that showed the above facilities existing on their premises in severe breach of the country’s laws.
The government allots land in arable areas of the country for farming and provides financial and other support as part of its plans to boost local agricultural production but the effort seems to be in vain. There are an estimated 1,400 farms in the country and the Ministry of Environment’s agricultural department late last year detected some 71 of them that were found misusing the land.
Most farms supporting agricultural production cultivate animal fodder and vegetables. However, to make more profits owners might be using some for other purposes.
The violating farms were given six months’ grace period to mend their ways or face the music and the deadline ends later this month.
The daily said it found it amazing that some farms were being used as hideouts for outlawed runaway workers and there was no official monitoring.
In labour camps, low-income workers were made to stay in substandard conditions and among rodents. The camps hardly have basic amenities and generators are used to supply electricity.
“What are the agencies responsible for ensuring human rights doing?” wondered the daily. “There are no checks.”
Despite widespread misuse of farmland, people are asking the government to allot them more and more land for farming.
The government this year amended a law (Number 10) that was passed in 1987 and enforced a new one (Law Number 2 of 2013) that specifies stringent punishment for misusing farmland.
The new legislation stipulates a jail term of six months or a fine of QR100,000 or both for repeated violation of its clauses.
However, it remains to be seen how effectively the government enforces the law once the grace period given to the violators ends this month-end.
The Peninsula
