(MENAFN- The Peninsula) QNA
Doha: Minister of Municipality H E Dr. Abdullah bin Abdulaziz bin Turki Al Subaie has said that the ministry's strategic plan for food security (2024-2030) focuses on achieving sustainability and relying on modern technologies and innovation in the agricultural sector.
In a statement to QNA on the sidelines of his participation in the 10th Qatar International Agricultural exhibition (AgriteQ 2023) at DECC, the Minister said that the new plan also deals with issues of improving distribution mechanisms, expanding sales outlets and increasing them while maintaining prices, improving market mechanisms, rationalising imports, and enhancing trade exchange with other countries.
He noted that the ministry's current strategic plan 2016-2023 is nearing conclusion, and it is about to launch new food security plan 2024-2030 which its new initiatives are being considered in cooperation with a consultancy firm specialized in this field, and that the next few months will highlight the features of this plan that is consistent with the third strategic development plan.
The Minister highlighting the great achievements in the past few years, including the significant growth in cultivated areas, quantity and production, and the initiatives launched by the Ministry to support all sectors of food security such as the distinguished product program, the export of Qatari vegetables in order to support farms, and the facilitation of access to foreign markets.
He pointed out that the ministry implemented the Agricultural Census project, the first of its kind in Qatar, which gave a clear picture and provided great information and accurate statistics on the situation in the agricultural sector, contributing to making decisions and steps on scientific basis that its results will be seen very soon.
Al Subaie underlined the ministry's inauguration of the Aquatic Research Center which succeeded in cultivating well-known fish species in the Qatari environment in accordance with production protocols, pointing out that new varieties are being cultivated to expand production.
He said that the ministry has opened four fish markets in the ports of Al Wakra, Al Khor, Doha and Al Ruwais to sell fish and support producers, noting at the same time the great progress made by the State of Qatar in order to achieve self-sufficiency in meat, milk and poultry at a high quality level.
The Minister noted the great turnout on the AgriteQ 2023 from exhibitors, companies, institutions and business owners from Qatar and abroad, and that all visitors and participants praised this exhibition as they were able to highlight their business, conclude major deals, and exchange experiences, reflecting the success of this international event.