Sheikh Jassem bin Jabor Al Thani, Assistant Undersecretary for Consumer Affairs at the Ministry of Economy and Commerce, with Sheikh Dr. Faleh bin Nasser Al Thani, Assistant Under-Secretary for Agriculture and Fisheries Affairs at the Ministry of Municipa
The Ministry of Municipality and Environment has launched the third phase of the programme for marketing Qatari premium vegetables that aims at providing platform for Qatari farmers to sell their products directly in a bid to get reasonable yields for their investments and hard work.
The production of premium vegetables in the country has now increased to 200,000 tonnes from 5,000 tonnes at the beginning the programme. Under the third phase Lulu Hypermarket has started selling 17 varieties of premium quality vegetables fresh from Qatari farms.
The Qatari premium vegetables are available at all branches of Lulu Hypermarket across the country at the prices of up to 25 percent lower than those imported, said a Lulu official.
The launch ceremony was held at Al Gharrafa branch of Lulu Hypermarket in the presence of many senior officials from the Ministry of Municipality and Environment and the Ministry of Economy and Commerce, local farmers and businessmen.
“Third phase of the programme witnessed remarkable participation of local farmers with big quantity of premium vegetables,” said Sheikh Dr Faleh bin Nasser Al Thani, Assistant Under-Secretary for Agriculture and Fisheries Affairs at the Ministry of Municipalities and Environment.
He said that the premium products attracted growing number of customers due to quality, reasonable prices and continuous monitoring by municipal inspectors to ensure it is complying the specification required. “The production of premium vegetables increased from 5,000 tonnes at the beginning the programme to 200,000 tonnes now contributing 20 percent of total produce of local vegetable in the country,” said Al Thani.
Regarding organic vegetables, Al Thani said that currently five farms are producing organic vegetables adding that more farmers are expected to join the business because it gives reasonable prices to them. He said that a slew of programme including incentives and financial support to farmers announced by the Minister of Municipality and Environment recently will encourage businessmen to invest in agricultural sector.
“The marketing programme will help increase the production of premium vegetables,” said Sheikh Jassem bin Jabor Al Thani, Assistant Undersecretary for Consumer Affairs at the Ministry of Economy and Commerce.
“The programme began with the participation of only eight farmers and now the number of participants reached to 69 farms,” said Yousef Al Khulaifi, Director of Agricultural Affairs Department at the Ministry of Municipality and Environment. “Lulu Hypermarket has showcased 17 local premium vegetables including cucumbers, tomatoes, black peppers, long chilies, cherry tomatoes, bunch tomatoes, broccoli and various leafy vegetables and they are available at all Lulu branches throughout the country”, an official of Lulu Hypermarket said.
Regarding the prices, he said that prices of premium quality vegetables are being fixed by the Ministry and it will not change frequently unlike the prices of regular vegetables that witnessed ups and down almost every day based on auction prices.
He said that Lulu Hypermarket has tied up of 64 local farms for supplying vegetables. Premium vegetables which are being imported from Holland have started coming from Qatari farms.
