‘QR36mn loss’ recorded in harvest of dates, vegetables

The loss in dates’ harvest exceeds QR20mn a year, while that in the local harvest of tomatoes, zucchini and cucumbers amounts to more than QR16mn a year.

The study indicated that the loss percentage of tomatoes grown in open land amount to 3.95% of the harvest, and this drops to 3.26% for tomatoes grown in greenhouses.

The reasons behind the losses include shortage of qualified labour force at the harvest time, adverse weather conditions, insects and infection with diseases, and shortage of selection and separation facilities.

There is also a considerable loss in the marketing process due to various issues, in particular at the central market due to inadequate storage equipment and facilities. It is estimated that the national loss of tomato harvest amounts to QR6mn a year.

Regarding cucumber, around 44.7% of the loss in the local harvest takes place during the picking phase. There is an annual loss of around QR6.1mn in the local cucumber harvest, attributed to the same reasons that caused the loss in tomato harvest.

For the same reasons also the loss in the local harvest of zucchini amounts to QR3.89mn, mostly taking place in the marketing process and harvest time.

As for fish, the annual loss in locally caught fish amounts to QR15mn. The loss in the fishing boats amounts to 2.46% in the summer and 1.56% in winter. There is also some percentage of loss at the level of the wholesale and retail traders with the loss at the retailers’ exceeding QR10mn a year, mostly due to hot weather and lack of proper storage facilities and equipment.

Further, the study issued a number of recommendations to avoid such loss. These include: proper use of pesticides before and during the planting process, taking care of the collection and separation process of the harvest at the farm itself, use of proper storage techniques and facilities and providing fishing boats and the central market with adequate quantities of ice and insulated cooling boxes for fish.