Adverse situations bring out the best in everyone. It pressures people to innovate, explore and push the limit. This is exactly what happened after the four siege countries announced their blockade over Qatar in June 2017.
This adverse happening stirred up the normal and pushed everyone to bring their best to the table. New thoughts, new beginnings, new ideas, new plans and it was time to plunge into action without wasting time.
Almost two years down the line, it is very heartening to see that Qatar has not only beaten the illegal and inhuman blockade, but also managed to rise above expectations and progress at a rapid pace. This is especially visible in journey towards food security.
The news which came out last week that Baladna has come out with juices in 6 flavours is one such high points. The local dairies not only managed to fulfil the 100 percent milk requirement of the country, they are forging ahead with more and more local products be it laban, curd or fruit juices.
This is no mean feat considering that 22 odd months back Doha was a net importer of dairy products. The market share of local companies was miniscule compared to the imported products. It is a remarkable turnaround to become self-sufficient in such a short time. It is a matter of great pride that while doing so they didn’t compromise on quality or taste and the products are so good that firms are planning to export their products soon.
Companies have stepped up their pace in starting new projects or expanding existing ones and the results can be seen on the shelves of supermarkets. There are more and more local products now available to choose from – be it poultry, vegetables or meat. Even non-perishable goods like paper tissues, detergents, packaging materials and many more are produced inside the country.
Another big success story is vegetable farming. Using locally developed technology and materials, many farms are able to produce vegetables through out the year in their automated green houses where every variable can be remotely controlled. This has boosted the efficiency of local farms and has resulted in much higher output.
Some farms are already exporting their produce to friendly countries in the region and they are aiming to export to Europe.
All this shows what determination in the face of adversity can achieve. This is just the beginning, there are many more glories to come and it can only get better.
