Qatar- 3 tonnes of dates sold on day one of Local Dates Festival seedlings offered at very low price
Date
7/31/2016 5:52:14 AM
(MENAFN- The Peninsula) Minister of Municipality and Environment H E Mohamed bin Abdullah Al Rumaihi visiting Al Mazrouah Yard. He was briefed by officials on its functioning and listened to the views of citizens and residents about the services.
By Nada Fahad Al Baker
DOHA: Three tonnes of dates were sold on the opening day of Local Dates Festival 2016 at Souq Waqif, organisers said yesterday.
According to the official Twitter account of the Ministry of Municipality and Environment, 2,000 boxes (three tonnes) were sold on the first day of the 18-day festival. 'Eighteen farms are participating in the festival and the number could rise if demand increases,” Yousef Al Khulaifi, Director, Agricultural Affairs Department at the ministry, told The Peninsula.
Al Khulaifi said the most popular varieties of dates available are Khalas, Khanizi, Shishi, Barhi and Arziz.
There are also other varieties grown by local farms but they are rare and farmers don";t want to sell them, he added.
The festival is also offering seedlings and 79 were sold on the first day. The seedlings are offered at a very low price.
One seedling is sold for QR85 while it costs in the market between QR230 and QR250. A citizen is allowed to purchase only maximum five. 'The reason for offering seedlings to citizens at such a good price aims at boosting date production by encouraging them to plant the seedlings on their own,” stressed Al Khulaifi.
Visitors at the exhibition yesterday.