Farm complex builds eight new greenhouse facilities

Abdullah al-Sulaiteen with the guests who attended the opening of new greehouse facilities. Right: A farm worker picks cucumbers at one of SAIC’s greenhouse facilities.

By Hamza Jilani/Staff Reporter

Abdullah al-Sulaiteen, chairman of Al Sulaiteen Agricultural and Industrial Complex (SAIC) on Tuesday inaugurated eight new greenhouse facilities and one net house, which will be integrated into his local farming operations.

The new additions are supported by the Qatar Development Bank (QDB) and are part of a local vision to boost food security in Qatar.

“We are very happy to support farming in Qatar and QDB makes that local support an objective in its operations,” Hamad al-Kandi, public relations manager at QDB, said, adding: “Such loans are available to other farmers as well as we strive to support the local agricultural sector.”

The new greenhouses cover an area of 1,344 sq m each and are equipped with hydroponic technology, water treatment for recycling, temperature control and humidifiers which will be used to grow tomato, red, green and yellow capsicum, cucumber and cantaloupe.

“Food security is quite challenging in Qatar because of the weather and water conditions which force us to grow only 10% of our needs. The rest is imported. In order for Qatar to achieve independence we must expand our operations outside Qatar – and we are,” said al-Sulaiteen, adding: “Right now we are looking at a number of Asian and African countries to build farms to produce for Qatar.”

Al-Sulaiteen’s farm, hailed for the technologies used to produce both food and flowers for landscaping, is one out of about 350 commercially viable farms operating in Qatar.

He said that no matter how advanced Qatar becomes and how rich the nation is, “farming is a basic pillar of civilisation and we need to remember that if you don’t have food, money won’t serve you much”.

“We certainly can’t achieve full food security in Qatar but any contribution to that vision is welcomed by our leaders,” he said, adding: “The most important thing is to keep up with modern technology to find solutions to any obstacles in our operations due to Qatar’s naturally harsh environment.”