In spite of the rising weather temperature, Qatari farms have continued to supply the local market with several varieties of vegetables amounting to 20 different types on daily basis, which indicates the successful efforts of local farms in this regard.
Speaking to local Arabic daily Arrayah, a number of vegetable sellers at Al Sailiya Central Market stressed that customers highly favour the locally produced vegetables and prefer them over imported types for being fresh and reasonably priced. They pointed out that the amounts of local products at the market are limited and far less than that during the winter season. However, almost five years ago, the local agriculture products were very rare in the market due to the scarcity of production, but due to the development in the means of production and the great support of the government to the agriculture field, these have considerably grown.
The available local products at the market currently include cucumber, capsicum, eggplants, okra, zucchini, pumpkin, white onion, cabbage, cauliflower, and other leafy vegetables such as parsley, watercress, coriander, and other types.
Mohamed Alam, said that customers see that the locally produced cucumber and eggplants are of higher quality than the imported ones and they prefer them over the imported types. He noted that most customers at the market, whether Qataris or expatriates, go for the Qatari products for their high quality and good prices. Besides, local farmers are keen to abide by the standards of the Ministry of Municipality regarding the use of fertilizers and pesticides within the safe limits.
Burhan Fadl said that local farms are keen to supply the local market with considerably good amounts of fresh vegetables on daily basis, mostly produced through greenhouses using sophisticated farming methods to overcome the difficulty of open field agriculture. He added that that he has been working in the sale of vegetables for over 20 years in the country but over the last five years the amount and development of the Qatari products supplied to the market are considered unprecedented. He said that the market now receive varies types of vegetables locally produced, which never used to happen before during the summer season.
Nassir Hanif said that the locally produced vegetables are sold at good prices for instance a box of cucumber sells for QR15, a box of hot chilly for QR40, cabbage QR10, eggplants QR20, Okra QR30 and a box of lemon for QR10. He stressed that the local product has been maintaining an excellent presence at Al Sailiya Central Market.
