Doha: Executive Director of Business Relations at Hassad Food Mubarak Al Sahouti has said that Qatar’s production of some vegetables exceeds consumption rates.
In an interview with Qatar News Agency (QNA), Al Sahouti said that the volume of vegetables received from local farmers increased by 20% in the current season, compared to the previous season.
He noted that local market needs about 2,000 tonnes of cucumbers and about 5,000 to 6,000 tonnes of tomatoes per month. These needs are secured through Qatari farms during the agricultural seasons. He noted that the quantities supplied currently to sales outlets by Mahaseel for Marketing and Agricultural Services, a subsidiary of Hassad, exceed these rates. These quantities are sold through Mahaseel, and 90% of them are consumed locally.
Al Sahouti pointed to Hassad’s actual contribution to achieving food security, noting that the company established Mahaseel for Marketing and Agricultural Services in 2018, in coordination with the Ministry of Municipality, with the aim of supporting local farmers who face challenges in marketing their products.
He said the high demand for local vegetables is as outlets and shops became completely dependent on local products, especially during the winter season.
Al Sahouti referred to a noticeable decline in imports during this period, due to the abundance of local product which is characterised by high quality and freshness.
He explained that the establishment of Mahaseel was in line with the investment strategy of Hassad, which aims to contribute to achieving food security and increasing the agricultural crop in cooperation with the Ministry of Municipality, based on actual studies of the needs of the local market.
Its establishment contributed to determining the mechanism for providing appropriate support to the agricultural private sector, thus contributing to achieving self-sufficiency by supplying and marketing various local vegetables, such as tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, eggplants, and zucchini.
Al Sahouti said that the volume of shipments supplied locally by Mahaseel reached 60 million kilograms of vegetables in the past three years. The company received 50,000 supplies in the same period, bringing the volume of monthly receipt of vegetables to 5 million and 500,000kg at peak times. In terms of supporting Qatari farmers, Al Sahouti noted that Mahaseel purchases local products at incentive prices set by the Ministry of Municipality.
