*Minister of Municipality and Environment Mohamed bin Abdullah al-Rumaihi inaugurates a new vegetable yard at Al Shamal

The Ministry of Municipality and Environment will open more markets to support Qatari farmers, it was announced on Thursday.

“Promoting local produce will support Qatari farmers by lowering the marketing costs and encouraging them to increase production,” HE the Minister of Municipality and Environment Mohamed bin Abdullah al-Rumaihi said.

Speaking to reporters after inaugurating a new vegetable yard at Al Shamal, he explained that the ministry aims to facilitate the supply of local produce from the farms to the consumers.

“Such efforts ease the burden on farmers in terms of marketing their products, as all they have to do is bring their products to these markets.

“The markets for local produce must be located in easily accessible areas as the products may not be suitable for long-distance transport.”

HE al-Rumaihi was of the view that Al Shamal town deserves the interest given to it as it has a large number of farmers, some of whom are yet to commence production.

“A market will be inaugurated in Al Sheehaniya too,” he added. Markets for local vegetables were also opened on Thursday at Al Khor, Al Thukhaira, and Al Wakrah.

The Agricultural Affairs Department manager Youssef al-Khulaifi said a total of 12 farms are participating in Al Shamal market, bringing to 100 the total number of farms marketing their products in the local markets.

“These markets have made big sales of around 4mn boxes of produce ever since their first season in 2012/2013, including some 1.2mn boxes last year alone,” he added.

Abdulrahman al-Sulaiti, who oversees the markets, said that consumers are keen on visiting the local produce markets, due to their high quality and reasonable prices.

“The idea behind these markets is to provide producers with the ability to market their products without fees or middlemen,” he added.

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