Latest news with #MinistryofMunicipality
The Star
2 days ago
- Business
- The Star
Feature: From desert to delight: Qatar's dates festival highlights local farming gains
DOHA, July 27 (Xinhua) -- As midsummer heat scorches the streets of Doha, an air-conditioned covered square at Souq Waqif -- one of Doha's oldest heritage landmarks -- offers not only respite from the blazing sun but also a glimpse into the transformation of Qatar's agricultural sector. Beneath the tent at the 10th Local Dates Festival, rows of rutab (freshly harvested dates) are stacked high, showcasing the progress of local farming. The annual festival, running from July 24 to Aug. 7 and featuring 116 farms from across the country, reflects the rapid growth of the event since its inaugural edition in 2016, with just 19 participants. "It has truly become a yearly tradition," said Adel Zain Alkaldi Alyafei, assistant director of the Agricultural Affairs Department at the Ministry of Municipality. He highlighted the anticipation among residents and citizens in Qatar who eagerly await the festival. "By June, people are already asking: When is the rutab festival?" he added. The total sales from last year's edition exceeded 240 tonnes, nearly 10 times the output when the event first began, indicating Qatar's broader agricultural transformation, particularly in the production of rutab. The achievement is impressive given Qatar's challenging geography. Located in a tropical desert zone, Qatar contends with extreme heat, limited rainfall, and scarce arable land. According to the Ministry of Municipality, Qatar now meets more than 75 percent of its domestic dates demand through local production, a major milestone in its drive toward food security and self-sufficiency. Key to this turnaround has been sustained government support. The ministry provides agricultural inputs such as fertilizers and pest control permits, along with logistical services. Just as crucial are exclusive marketing channels like the local dates festival, which allow farmers to sell directly to consumers. "This festival is considered a marketing outlet for farm owners to sell their local products without any competition," said Alyafei. "Everything inside this tent is local produce." For many people, particularly in Arab countries, dates are more than a summer fruit due to their nutritional value, being rich in fiber, potassium, and antioxidants, as well as their deep cultural and religious significance for Muslims. Dates are especially favored during Ramadan as they are traditionally eaten to break the fast, often accompanied by water or milk. Visitors to the festival praised the variety and quality on offer. "We have tasted and purchased all the varieties available in the exhibition. We liked them all, and we advise everyone in Qatar to visit," said one Indian family. Another visitor, Ahmed Al-Masri, added, "My family and I wait for this rutab festival every year. We buy for ourselves and send to our families. We prefer the Qatari local dates as they are always fresh and sweet." The festival also aligns with Qatar's National Food Security Strategy 2030, which aims to promote sustainable agriculture, reduce reliance on imports, and strengthen local food systems.
Qatar Tribune
3 days ago
- Health
- Qatar Tribune
Veterinary quarantine facilities at Ruwais Port and Hamad Port receive 3-star GSAS certification
Tribune News Network Doha The new veterinary quarantine facilities at Ruwais Port and near Hamad Port have received three-star ratings from the Global Sustainability Assessment System (GSAS). This achievement is a culmination of Qatar's efforts to consolidate environmental sustainability practices within its various development projects, in line with the Qatar National Vision 2030 and its goals to promote green infrastructure. This achievement reflects the Ministry of Municipality's commitment to applying the highest sustainability standards in the design, construction, and operation of veterinary facilities, ensuring a healthy and safe environment and enhancing operational efficiency in accordance with international best practices. The GSAS system is the first integrated sustainability assessment system in the Middle East and North Africa region. It was specifically designed to align with the nature of the region's urban environment. It is the same system used to assess major projects such as the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 stadiums and Lusail City. This classification enhances the role of veterinary quarantines in supporting sustainable development goals and enhancing the efficiency of environmental infrastructure across the country. The Ministry of Municipality continues its efforts to enhance the efficiency of veterinary quarantines and expand their operational capabilities, as part of its strategy to develop service infrastructure to serve food security goals and protect society from trans-boundary animal diseases.
Qatar Tribune
5 days ago
- Business
- Qatar Tribune
10th Local Dates Festival kicks off at Souq Waqif
QNA Doha The 10th edition of the Local Dates Festival kicked off on Thursday at Souq Waqif East Square, under the patronage of the Ministry of Municipality and Souq Waqif Management. More than 100 local farms are participating, with a large official and popular presence. The festival will continue until August 7, welcoming visitors daily from 4pm to 9pm, and from 4pm to 10pm on Fridays and Saturdays, in a traditional atmosphere that reflects the importance of dates in Qatari food culture and local heritage. The opening ceremony was attended by Eng. Fahad Mohammed Al Qahtani, assistant undersecretary for Agriculture and Food Security Affairs at the Ministry of Municipality, and Abdulrahman Mohammed Al Numa, representative of the Private Engineering Office, along with a number of ministry and market management officials, including Yousef Khaled Al Khulaifi, director of the Agricultural Affairs Department at the Ministry of Municipality, and Mohammed Abdullah Al Salem, director of Souq Waqif and general supervisor of the festival. In a statement on the occasion, Al Khulaifi stressed that the festival has witnessed significant development since its first launch in 2016, in which only 19 farms participated, bringing the number of participants in its current edition to 116 farms, reflecting the growing interest in local crops. He noted the increasing turnout of visitors and the fruitful cooperation with the Souq Waqif management, which has contributed to the success of this event over the past years. For his part, Al Salem explained that Souq Waqif is keen to organise this festival annually in cooperation with the Ministry of Municipality, in support of the local agricultural sector. He pointed out that the site designated for the festival has been fully equipped by the ministry to provide a suitable environment for farmers and visitors. He said the market's central location in the heart of Doha contributes to attracting large numbers of visitors, making it an ideal platform for marketing local dates. The director of Souq Waqif and the festival's general supervisor noted that the previous edition of the festival recorded sales of more than 240 tonnes of dates, anticipating even better results this year, thanks to the high quality of local produce and the wide participation of Qatari farms, which offer a diverse selection of dates and date extracts. The festival is one of the country's most prominent agricultural events and comes within the framework of national efforts to support local production and enhance food security by encouraging farmers to improve the quality of their production and develop date varieties in line with Qatar's National Vision for Sustainable Development.
Qatar Tribune
5 days ago
- Business
- Qatar Tribune
Local Dates Fest kicks off at Souq Waqif
QNA Doha The 10th edition of the Local Dates Festival kicked off at Souq Waqif East Square on Thursday, with the participation of more than 100 local farms. Held under the auspices of the Ministry of Municipality and Souq Waqif Management, the festival will continue until August 7, welcoming visitors daily from 4 pm to 9 pm, and from 4 pm to 10 pm on Fridays and Saturdays. The opening ceremony was attended by Eng. Fahad Mohammed Al-Qahtani, Assistant Undersecretary for Agriculture and Food Security Affairs at the Ministry of Municipality, and Abdulrahman Mohammed Al Numa, representative of the Private Engineering Office, along with a number of ministry and market management officials. Director of the Agricultural Affairs Department at the Ministry of MunicipalityYousef Khaled Al Khulaifi said the festival has witnessed significant development since its first launch in 2016, in which only 19 farms participated, bringing the number of participants in its current edition to 116 farms, reflecting the growing interest in local crops. He noted the increasing turnout of visitors and the fruitful cooperation with the Souq Waqif management, which has contributed to the success of this event over the past years. page 2
Qatar Tribune
17-07-2025
- Business
- Qatar Tribune
Ministry of Municipality receives special achievement in GIS Award from Esri
San Diego The Ministry of Municipality, represented by the Urban Planning Affairs Sector, received the Special Achievement in GIS (SAG) Award, presented by the Environmental Systems Research Institute (Esri), during the Esri User Conference which is being held in San Diego, California, until July 18. Director of the Survey Department at the Ministry of Municipality Ali Al Marzouqi received the award from the CEO of Esri Jack Dangermond, in the presence of a number of ministry officials during the conference's general session. The Ministry of Municipality explained that this award comes in recognition of the efforts of the Urban Planning Affairs Sector in adopting and developing the latest GIS technologies, especially Plan Map and geographic data layers (GIS Layers), in addition to utilizing them to serve the Ministry's plans and the community in the State of Qatar. It is worth noting that the SAG Award is given annually to government and private entities around the world, in recognition of their excellence in employing geographic information systems to serve and develop communities.
