CHAIRMAN: DR. KHALID BIN THANI AL THANI
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF: DR. KHALID MUBARAK AL-SHAFI

Qatar / General

Visitor turnout, sales rise as 6th Mahaseel Festival concludes today

Published: 12 Mar 2022 - 08:55 am | Last Updated: 12 Mar 2022 - 08:56 am
Peninsula

Joelyn Baluyut | The Peninsula

Doha: The sixth edition of Mahaseel Festival will conclude today. Souq Mahaseel, however, will continue until May 15 every Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 9am to 9pm.

A huge public turnout has been recorded for this year’s edition. A number of dignitaries visited the festival including Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Environment Protection and Agriculture in Georgia, H E Nino Tandilashvili; Ambassador of Moldova, H E Victor Tvircun; Georgian Ambassador, H E Nikoloz Revazishvili; and Panama Ambassador Musa Asvat.

They praised the high quality of products and diversity of the local products, in addition to competitive prices. The festival is a haven not only for crops but also for flower and plant lovers.

Flowers are in full bloom, and visitors can purchase a small pot for as low as QR1.

Exhibitor Dili Tamanz from Ajaj Farms Flowers told The Peninsula they have been participating in the festival for years and their sales are rising every year. Their average daily sales are between QR4,000 to QR5,000. It has a wide range of flower selections from stargazer, carnation, calla lily, and lily, among others. Prices are between QR30 and QR90.

Indoor garden and fruit trees are also available.  Tomato, eggplant, papaya, lemon, parsley, mint, rosemary prices range from as low as QR25 to QR50. Other selections include aloe vera, bougainvillea, money plant, spider plant, and sunflower, to name a few. Plant, flower and vegetable seeds, soils, and fertilizers are also available.

Abdul Bashar, an exhibitor from Global Farm Nursery, said they have been part of the festival since its inception and have a daily average sales of  QR8,000 to QR14,000.

Dates, honey and poultry products can also be seen in the festival. Abu Saif Apiaries and Café exhibitor Ashley Labrador said they are gaining more sales especially during Mahaseel. Their products range from natural honey, honeycomb, honey spoon, pollen, and candles made from honey wax. 

Meanwhile, Doha Dates exhibitor Mohammad said, “Every year, we are getting more sales as we have participated since Mahaseel started five years ago.” They offer packed dates, individually-packed dates, date paste, dates syrup, chocolate coated dates, and dates with fruits. 

As many as 39 companies are participating in this year’s festival wherein 25 are local farms; seven poultry, meat and dairy producers; and seven nurseries. A dedicated six food stalls are also stationed at the festival. The festival is being held at the southern area of Katara. 

Mahaseel festival was launched in 2016 and forms an important part of Cultural Village Foundation, Katara’s initiatives to support government efforts to achieving food security and self-sufficiency which contribute to the realisation of the Qatar National Vision 2030.