Doha: Qatar has made significant progress in food production in the past two years as local production of agricultural, fish, animal, and dairy products has jumped by 400 percent since 2017 and annual fresh food trade volume has reached QR10bn.

The Ministry of Municipality and Environment (MME) plans to increase livestock and fish production to 30 percent and 65 percent respectively, by 2022.

Sheikh Dr. Faleh bin Nasser Al Thani, Assistant Undersecretary of Agriculture and Fisheries Affairs, said: “The continuing national efforts, led by Minister of Municipality and Environment, H E Abdullah bin Abdulaziz bin Turki Al Subaie, have led to highly positive results and have culminated in the increased local production of agricultural, fish, animal and dairy products to 400 percent since 2017, with an annual fresh food trade volume of QR10bn.”

The MME yesterday announced plans to organise international agricultural exhibition to further boost country’s food security.

“The International Agricultural Exhibition (AgriteQ) has been instrumental in laying a strong foundation for technological advancements and highly impactful ambitious projects that have had a great impact in achieving 80 percent self-sufficiency in vegetables, meat, and fish and 100 percent in poultry and egg derivatives,” said H E the Minister of Municipality and Environment in a statement issued to announce the readiness of the Ministry to organise 2019-AgriteQ.

H E the Minister said that Qatar has accomplished a number of achievements in the agricultural sector under the vision and wise guidance of Amir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani who has placed the development of natural resources, particularly agriculture, at the top of national priorities in pursuit of self-sufficiency and food security.

“To attain food security, the government has adopted innovative environmental sustainability policies, strategies, and techniques,” said the Minister.

He said that this has also led to the opening of new investment prospects in the domestic agricultural sector, backed by modern facilities and key government investment policies.

Dr. Faleh added: “Qatar also prioritizes optimum investment in technology, research and development, and food control to bolster quality agricultural, animal, and fishery productions using safe and sustainable ways according to the Second National Development Strategy 2018-2022.

He said that the national strategy aims to increase livestock and fish productions to 30 percent and 65 percent, respectively, by 2022 in support of Qatar National Vision 2030, which seeks to cement Qatar’s global leadership and ensure its sustainable development to provide its people with a decent living.

“We at the Ministry of Municipality and Environment will continue to provide the necessary support to local farmers to increase the national agricultural production in accordance with the highest standards of quality. We remain committed to our 2018-2022 strategy, a roadmap to advance the country’s agricultural gains thanks to the policies of our wise leadership.”

He said that the Ministry will also focus on providing the means to ensure the country’s prosperity and progress in accordance with Qatar Vision 2030 and the Second National Development Strategy.”