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Doha: To enhance agricultural produce for food security, Agricultural Affairs Department of the Ministry of Municipality has started providing agricultural support to local farmers for the new season 2024-25.
“The services section of Agricultural Affairs Department provides different types of support to farmers,” said Head of Agricultural Guidance and Services Section at Agricultural Affairs Department, Ahmed Salem Al Yafei.
Speaking to Qatar TV recently, he said: “Now we have started provided agricultural mechanisation service for preparing agricultural lands (ploughing and levelling) for the new season.” He said local farmers are getting new machines and plows and agricultural services at nominal prices. “The initiative aims at enabling farmers to utilise larger area of their farms for cultivation to increase the production,” said Al Yafei.
He said the second support from the department is to provide seeds to farmers. “We have started distributing seeds to farmers for the new season. It is very important for farmers to get seeds on time because they need to make preparations accordingly,” said Al Yafei. He said the department will also distribute fertilizers and pesticides to farmers later.
The Ministry of Municipality, represented by the Department of Agricultural Affairs, in cooperation with Mahaseel Company, has organised a workshop for farm owners and managers on crop quality management on pre- and post-harvest transactions.
Al Yafei said this is first training workshop for farmers for the new agricultural season 2024-25. “The event aims at educating farmers on how to prepare for the new season, their operational plan before cultivation and after harvesting."
A number of workshops will be held throughout the season. A total of 19 workshops were held during last season 2023-24,” he said. Agricultural mechanisation service is provided to prepare agricultural lands (ploughing and levelling) for all farms, through the three service centres (north, centre and south).
Farmers’ support plans aim to focus on qualitative and technical support for farmers, through supporting production inputs, improving agricultural facilities and equipment, and developing irrigation systems.
The qualitative support for farmers is represented in a set of procedures and programmes that aim to support them and improve their productivity and the quality of their products for food security, taking into account the sustainability of the country’s natural and environmental resources.
Qatar attaches great importance to developing the economic sectors in general and the agricultural and food security sector in particular, as it is one of the vital sectors for achieving food security in the country.
The National Food Security Strategy 2018-2023, contributed significantly to developing the food security system in Qatar.
