(MENAFN- Gulf Times) Fully supporting Qatari farms is key to attaining food security in the country, HE the Minister of Municipality and Environment Mohamed bin Abdullah al-Rumaihi said yesterday.
'The ministry's vision can be achieved by providing Qatari farms with agricultural materials, fertilisers, veterinary treatments and consultations with experts, he explained after inaugurating the fifth Qatar International Agricultural Exhibition (Agriteq 2017) at the Doha Exhibition and Convention Centre.
The four-day event, under the patronage of HE the Prime Minister and Interior Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa al-Thani, is organised by the Ministry of Municipality and Environment (MME). It will be open from 9am to 9pm.
The inauguration ceremony was attended by Oman's Agriculture and Fisheries Minister Dr Fuad bin Jafar bin al-Sajwani, Food and Agriculture Organisation director general José Graziano Da Silva, Kuwait's Public Authority for Agriculture and Fish Resources Affairs chairman and director general Faisal Saoud al-Hasawi, and a number of ambassadors.
More than 100 local, regional and international companies are taking part in this year's Agriteq, which aims to raise the level of agricultural production in Qatar in line with the Qatar National Vision 2030's food security goals. Agriteq's main aim revolves around offering extensive support to agriculture, livestock production and fisheries in Qatar in co-ordination with the Qatar Development Bank in implementing local agriculture-related projects, the minister noted. Such initiatives, he stressed, will help attract foreign expertise, technologies and businesses, as well as emphasise the role of Qatari farms, to achieve self-sufficiency in fruits and vegetables.
'The outcome of Agriteq 2017 will contribute effectively to making the future of agriculture in Qatar more promising from a business and economic perspective, thereby helping achieve food security, the minister said.
The ministry is also supporting Qatari farms in using modern technology in agriculture without increasing water use or workforce, and using carefully selected seeds and high-quality biological products.
Sheikh Dr Faleh bin Nasser alThani , assistant undersecretary of Agricultural Affairs, Livestock and Fisheries at the MME, noted that Qatar's agricultural industry is seeing remarkable development due to efforts in product marketing and pursuing new opportunities in fishery, agricultural and livestock projects, which address a large aspect of the country's needs.
Latest agricultural products and technologies from international companies, including developments in irrigation, livestock and dairy farms, horticulture and poultry feed, veterinary products and fish farming, are showcased at Agriteq.
The event will also hold panel discussions aimed at formulating solutions on key issues and challenges faced by the agriculture sector.
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