DOHA: The Ministry of Municipality and Environment yesterday organised a strawberry festival at farmers’ market (Al Mazrouha Yard) in Umm Salal to promote the locally produced fruit.
It was inaugurated by Sheikh Dr Faleh bin Nasser Al Thani, Assistant Undersecretary, Agricultural Affairs, Livestock and Fisheries, at the ministry.
The ministry is studying to set up two new farmers’ markets in Al Rayyan and Al Ruways in the next season, he added. The inaugural ceremony was attended by Yousef Al Khulaifi, Director, Department of Agricultural Affairs; and Abdul Rahman Al Sulaiti, General Supervisor of the yard.
“Strawberry stocks at the festival for sale are fresh and of high quality and directly from local farms,” said Sheikh Dr Faleh Al Thani.
The festival aims to encourage farmers to cultivate water-efficient fruits and vegetables, including strawberry. Many farmers came forward to cultivate strawberry because it generates good profit and modern techniques are being used to conserve water, he added.
The ministry is considering allowing farmers to cultivate strawberries throughout the year, he added. It also plans to cultivate new varieties of fruits and vegetables, especially those of high quality with high water efficiency due to the growing demand for such produce, said Sheikh Dr Faleh Al Thani.
The festival is fifth event followed by festivals showcasing flowers, honey, organic agricultural produce and Kanar organised by the ministry this season, said Al Khulaifi.
Such festivals aim to introduce consumers to local produce. For example, the strawberry festival can highlight the availability of the locally produced fruit so that buyers can visit the farmers’ market, Al Khulaifi added.
Strawberry is being cultivated without soil that help save water in large quantity following the national strategy for water conservation.
Another festival to be held in collaboration with Community College and a local farm involved with organic agriculture to highlight healthy foods. Healthy dishes will be prepared during the event.
Festivals are huge crowd-pullers and the previous events attracted a large number of customers to the farmer’s market, said Al Sulaiti.
The strawberry festival is being held only in Al Mazrouha Yard in Umm Salal, to be followed by more such events in coming days, said Al Sulaiti.
The Ministry of Economy and Commerce has allotted a plot of land nearby where the farmers’ market in Umm Salal will be shifted to in next season, said Al Thani.The Peninsula
