The fifth edition of Mahaseel Festival, in co-operation with the Ministry of Municipality and Environment (MME), opened on Wednesday at Katara – the Cultural Village’s southern area, showcasing a wide range of fresh agricultural crops and products from 28 Qatari farms and nine national companies.
Katara general manager Dr Khalid bin Ibrahim al-Sulaiti inaugurated the festival in the presence of MME’s Fisheries Affairs acting assistant undersecretary and Food Security Department director Masoud Jarallah al-Marri, Agricultural Affairs director Youssef al-Khulaifi, festival organising committee chairman Salman al-Nuaimi, and ambassadors, as well as farm owners and representatives from participating national companies.
In a press statement, Dr al-Sulaiti said the Mahaseel Festival provides an opportunity for farm owners and companies to promote and market their products – from a variety of fresh vegetables, poultry, dates, honey, milk and dairy to ornamental plants and farming tools at reasonable prices.
He stressed that the event serves as an ideal platform for exchanging expertise and experience that contribute to the development of local agricultural production as the country aims to for self-sufficiency.
According to Dr al-Sulaiti, the event is witnessing a significant growth as the number of participants – local farm owners and Qatari companies – has been increasing every year.
Mahaseel, which has been attracting many residents in Qatar, also hosts eight plant nurseries, offering different varieties of flowers and other ornamental plants (indoor and outdoor).
An employee of a local farm told Gulf Times that their participation in the event contributed a lot in promoting their vegetables to the public, which, he said, are of high-quality.
Some of the best-selling products at Mahaseel include cucumbers, tomatoes, zucchini, bell peppers (differet colours), chili and jalapenos, and green leafy vegetables and herbs such as parsley.
A number of stalls are also selling locally-produced honey, fresh sugarcane and corn, free-range eggs, dates, meats, and poultry products, in addition to natural juices and other drinks. Shoppers, particularly those who buy in bulk, are being assisted by Mahaseel staff using their pushcarts.
Katara imposed safety protocols and other precautionary measures set by the Ministry of Public Health at the event such as checking of Ehteraz app (green code) and social distancing, as well as distributing hand santisers and masks to prevent the spread of coronavirus (Covid-19).
The latest edition of Mahaseel will be open from 9am to 9pm until January 2, after which the Mahaseel souq will operate on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays until March 31.
