The Ministry of Municipality and Environment (MME) has pointed out that the recently concluded 8th season of its yards for selling local agricultural products has made record sales during eight months compared to the previous seasons’ sales.
Local Arabic daily Arrayah reported that the MME explained that the recent season was the longest as it continued until the end of June for the first time. The yards were open for customers all the days of the week while the Central Market stayed closed due to the precautionary measures to contain the spread of the novel Coronavirus (Covid-19).
Throughout eight months the yards had a steady supply of locally produced vegetables and agriculture products. The MME stressed that during the 8th season, 16,035 tonnes of vegetables produced by the local farms were sold at the yards, whereas the previous season sold only 7,288 tonnes, marking an increase exceeding 120%. Regarding fruits, 6,253 tonnes were sold at the yards during the 8th season, compared to 5,537 tonnes during the previous season, an increase of around 13%. However, fish sales dropped from 99 tonnes for the 2018-2019 season to 84 tonnes in the recently concluding season, dropping about 15%.
There was a dip in the sales of domestic birds as 35,000 birds were sold in the last season compared to 51,000 in the previous season, a decrease of 32%, but the sales of eggs increased by 23% when compared to the previous season, as the last season sales stood at 22,200 trays of around 670,000 eggs.
Also local honey registered record sales in the season that concluded in June with 3,589kg sold, compared to 2,519kg in the previous season, a 42% increase. In addition, 14,341 heads of goats and sheep were sold in the last season, season compared to 12,177 previously.
In general, the yards have seen a noticeable gradual increase in the displayed quantities of fresh local produce and their sales over the past years since they were first opened in 2012-2013 season.
