Qatar- Households prefer fresh local farm produce to imports

By Mohammad Shoeb

DOHA: Fresh local vegetables and fruits which are the first priority of customers because of superior quality and affordable prices are giving a tough competition to imported produce.

Some local items such as fresh tomatoes cucumbers capsicums cherry tomatoes and leafy vegetables like spinach coriander and mint leaves are being sold at the farmers’ markets in Al Wakrah Al Mazrouah and Al Khor at nearly half the retail prices at some hypermarkets and retail outlets.

For example fresh cherry tomatoes directly sourced from local farms were available at QR12 a kg at Al Wakrah yard compared to QR30-QR40 a kg at retail stores. Local capsicums (red and yellow ones) were available at as low as QR7 a kg at farmers’ markets while the imported ones were sold at about QR20 a kg at hypermarkets and supermarkets.

Like other farmers’ markets Al Wakrah yard is becoming popular among households and restaurant owners who have started frequenting to the market in large numbers to buy fresh vegetables at cheaper rates.

“In addition to local tomatoes eggplants pumpkins white onions and other vegetables people come here to buy rare products such as domesticated poultry ducks rabbits and ornamental plants” said a vegetable vendor at Al Wakrah yard.

The increasing supply of fresh vegetables at affordable prices almost throughout the year has become possible due to technological advancements in the agro industry which has enabled local farmers to grow a wide range of produce in greenhouses even in extreme climatic conditions.

The government’s support to local farmers as part of its efforts to achieve food security in the country has also helped in terms of the growth in the number of farmers farm size and productivity.

“About six month ago we started a farm in an area of over two hectares in Umm Salal Ali. We produce tomatoes cucumbers capsicums cherry tomatoes and lettuce through hydroponics methods of farming in greenhouses” said Ali Erdogan Manger of the farm run by F G Agro company. “We have set up about nine greenhouses (each spreading over nearly 2200 square metres). Three are for tomatoes two each for cucumbers and capsicums one for cherry tomatoes and one for lettuce and seeding” he added.

Under the hydroponics method of farming plants are grown by using mineral nutrient solutions in water but without soil. These plants are grown with their roots in the mineral solution only or in an inert medium such as perlite or gravel.

“F G Agro is a US-based company. It is the first of its kind operating in Qatar and producing several popular vegetables. Our produce is fresh and affordable” said a salesman working at the farm.

“Currently we are able to harvest about 1500kg of tomatoes and between 600kg and 700kg of cucumbers at the farm every two days.”The Peninsula