Around 140 farms are participating in the new season of yards for selling local agricultural products, Ahmed al-Yafeai, head of the Agricultural Guidance Department at the Ministry of Municipality, told local Arabic daily Arrayah.Yards at four locations -- Al Wakra, Al Khor and Al Thakhira, Al Sheehaniya, Al Shamal -- opened on Thursday. They will function on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, from 7am to 3pm, until the peak production season begins in December, when they can operate daily.Al-Yafeai expects that the total sales of the four yards this year to reach 14,000 tonnes, an increase of 20% compared to last year. Al Mazrouah yard was the only one that was operational throughout the year.Only four varieties of local vegetables, including cucumbers and green beans, are initially available at these yards, in addition to some leafy varieties. All others, including tomatoes, are expected to be available at the yards in about a month from now.Al-Yafeai noted that the new season will witness the introduction of some local fruits at the yards, including strawberries. The support and subsidies provided by the Agricultural Affairs Department to farmers include fertilisers, seeds, and pesticides, in addition to the supply of the machinery with a reduced waiting time of about three days from the date of application, compared to 10 days last year.A good number of shoppers who visited the yards on the launch day expressed their happiness at the launch of a new season as they would have easy access to more fresh products at better prices, the daily added.
November 04, 2023 | 12:32 AM