Qatar’s food security strategy is a pivotal initiative that underscores the nation’s commitment to bolstering its agricultural sector while ensuring long-term food security. Central to this strategy is the use of innovative agricultural solutions and the adoption of sustainable, environment-friendly systems.
The major challenges in agriculture and food security are issues of water shortage, terrains and soil types. To address the water issue, the Ministry of Municipality has started providing farms with drip irrigation systems to 400 local farms, which is considered the most efficient water and nutrient delivery system for crops. As water is a precious commodity this measure will help rationalise water usage in agriculture and also cut down on labour costs as most farmers find this as one of the most main expenses.
Authorities are focused on rationalising the consumption of water used in agriculture, through a number of different programmes such as raising awareness and training farmers and owners on using modern methods in irrigating crops. The traditional irrigation methods lead to a waste of 50-60% of the water used, which in turn affects the groundwater reserve.
It is very important to make farming economically sustainable to attract more entrepreneurs to venture into this field. For this, new technologies must be introduced to increase the yield without compromising on the quality. New systems and practices like drip irrigation will allow farmers to achieve great results at less cost as it is very target-oriented and easy to use.
By promoting innovative methods in agriculture, such as advanced technology applications, hydroponics, vertical farming and controlled environment farming, Qatar seeks to maximize its domestic food production. Additionally, the strategy prioritises sustainability through the efficient use of resources, water conservation, and responsible land management. These forward-thinking approaches not only strengthen the nation’s food security but also align with global efforts to create a more environmentally conscious and resilient food supply system.
As part of the strategy to develop the agricultural sector and to keep pace with technology by using the best modern methods and means in agriculture, the Ministry of Municipality recently provided agricultural equipment like plough rails, plough transport vehicles, land levelling machines and their carriers (lowbeds), which are required by farmers for land preparation, ploughing and levelling operations, whether for open land, greenhouses or net halls. These efforts collectively contribute to improving food security and promoting local food production in Qatar, ensuring the availability of essential food items for its population even during any global crisis.
