Due to the searing summer heat, the production of local vegetables has dropped considerably, local Arabic daily Arrayah reported, citing sources from Al Sailiya Central Market.
A number of local farm owners stated that the greenhouses they have can only reduce temperature by 7C to 8C. As a result, in very hot weather the temperature inside the greenhouses cannot drop to 30C or less, providing a suitable environment for growing vegetables.
According to the 2021 agriculture statistics recently announced by the Ministry of Municipality, there are 13,601 cooled greenhouses at 352 local farms. The farm owners pointed out that most of the imported greenhouses are not suitable in hot weather.
Farm owner Mubarak Rashid al-Nuaimi observed that the main challenge is to continue production during the summer months as the electricity charges for cooled greenhouses often surpass the value of production, which reflects on the poor availability of local vegetables in the market during such season.
He said that the high cost of production drove many farmers to stop production in the summer months and instead prepare the farms for the usual agriculture season.
Nasser al-Khalaf noted that such cooled greenhouses have been instrumental to extend and prolong the usual agriculture season but their efficiency is limited when the weather becomes very hot as the issue involves other factors such as high soil temperature and high temperature of underground water.
Nasser al-Kuwari said that agriculture throughout June, July and August is not beneficial and profitable as the mechanism of these cooled greenhouses is not suitable for the local climate.
Khamis al-Kuwari said that technically and economically, agriculture during the hot summer months is a big challenge and stressed the need for fully air-conditioned greenhouses to be able to continue production during the summer months, which in turn needs immense support by way of lower electricity charges.
A number of local farm owners stated that the greenhouses they have can only reduce temperature by 7C to 8C. As a result, in very hot weather the temperature inside the greenhouses cannot drop to 30C or less, providing a suitable environment for growing vegetables.
According to the 2021 agriculture statistics recently announced by the Ministry of Municipality, there are 13,601 cooled greenhouses at 352 local farms. The farm owners pointed out that most of the imported greenhouses are not suitable in hot weather.
Farm owner Mubarak Rashid al-Nuaimi observed that the main challenge is to continue production during the summer months as the electricity charges for cooled greenhouses often surpass the value of production, which reflects on the poor availability of local vegetables in the market during such season.
He said that the high cost of production drove many farmers to stop production in the summer months and instead prepare the farms for the usual agriculture season.
Nasser al-Khalaf noted that such cooled greenhouses have been instrumental to extend and prolong the usual agriculture season but their efficiency is limited when the weather becomes very hot as the issue involves other factors such as high soil temperature and high temperature of underground water.
Nasser al-Kuwari said that agriculture throughout June, July and August is not beneficial and profitable as the mechanism of these cooled greenhouses is not suitable for the local climate.
Khamis al-Kuwari said that technically and economically, agriculture during the hot summer months is a big challenge and stressed the need for fully air-conditioned greenhouses to be able to continue production during the summer months, which in turn needs immense support by way of lower electricity charges.