Benefiting from underground water and rainfall, Qatar has directed its attention towards bolstering its agricultural endeavours, both in plant and animal farming. This progress owes much to the forward-thinking leadership, which set up strategic plans to development of natural resources, particularly agriculture, a paramount national priority, with a focus on self-sufficiency and food security. This vision has been translated into concrete policies, strategies, and innovative techniques that not only promote agriculture but also uphold environmental sustainability.
The strides taken by Qatar to fortify its agricultural sector and augment self-sufficiency in various local crops have yielded positive results. Supported by well-crafted policies and ambitious plans, the recent period has witnessed the collective commitment of various governmental bodies in Qatar, led by the Ministry of Municipality, to propel agricultural production towards the attainment of desired food security. These collective efforts have led to substantial achievements and significant breakthroughs.
These accomplishments underscore Qatar’s persistent dedication to food security, especially as encapsulated in the National Food Security Strategy 2018-2023. This strategy emphasizes the enhancement of domestic food production, the diversification of import sources, and the establishment of strategic reserves to stabilize food stocks. The forthcoming National Food Security Strategy 2024-2030, slated for implementation in April next year, accentuates sustainability, the integration of modern technology, innovation in agriculture, and increased summer season agricultural output through the adoption of contemporary farming techniques. The strategy includes initiatives related to expanding and improving strategic stockpiles of essential food items and important commodities during disasters and emergencies to enhance food security. This involves building a strategic reserve of agricultural, animal, and fish inputs, analysing operational models, and developing alert systems to monitor strategic stockpiles.
Among the noteworthy agricultural and environmental initiatives is the initiative to plant one million trees, emblematic of Qatar’s commitment to sustainability, a central theme set to be explored at Expo 2023 Doha, scheduled to open on October 2 and continue for six months. In addition, the ministry is actively pursuing the Agricultural Census project, conducting applied research, advancing tissue culture farming, developing enclosure complexes, researching the impact of treated water on animal feed production, enhancing agricultural services, and spearheading digital transformation and agricultural digitisation projects, among other endeavours.
The collective efforts of government entities and their plans, strategies, and initiatives devoted to the agricultural sector, coupled with robust state support, have together precipitated a substantial uptick in production in recent years. These endeavours not only seek to safeguard local food producers through the deployment of trade measures but also aim to diversify import sources, establish a regional trade centre, and harness the capabilities of ports to position Qatar as a pivotal regional trading hub for critical food items, thus fortifying the nation’s food security.
