The Qatar Livestock Association (Anaam) has stressed that its recently signed memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Widam Food Company does not oblige livestock owners and breeders to sell their sheep, goats or camels to Widam.Anaad chairman Mubarak Rashid al-Sahouti has said that participation in the arrangement as entirely voluntary and governed by supply, demand and mutually agreed market prices.The agreement, he added, is primarily designed to address a longstanding challenge facing some local livestock breeders, including finding reliable marketing channels and obtaining fair market prices for their production.Al-Sahouti emphasised that breeders who can market their livestock independently and achieve the prices they consider satisfactory remain free to continue doing so.The MoU, signed this month between Anaam and Widam, which operates Al Wakrah Central Abattoir and private abattoirs in Qatar, establishes a structured marketing channel for locally produced livestock.Under the arrangement, Widam will purchase livestock from participating breeders at prices agreed according to prevailing market conditions and subsequently market the animals to consumers through its sales network, applying an agreed profit margin.Al-Sahouti said that the initiative is particularly important for breeders who have local production but lack the necessary expertise, resources or market access to market their livestock themselves.Rather than replacing existing sales channels, the partnership provides an additional option for breeders who need assistance in reaching consumers.The locally produced sheep, goats and camels covered by the initiative will be offered through Widam's livestock yards at Al Wakrah Central Abattoir, Umm Salal Central Market, Al Shahaniya Central Abattoir and the Abu Nakhla sales area.For the first time under the expanded arrangement, locally produced meat and livestock will also be made available through Widam's electronic application, giving consumers an additional digital purchasing channel.The products are expected to be offered throughout the year, subject to availability, production seasons, livestock varieties and prevailing market prices.Anaam will serve as the co-ordinating link between breeders and Widam, helping identify available production and co-ordinate supplies according to the specifications and weights required by the market.The arrangement is, al-Sahouti said, therefore intended not simply to create another point of sale, but to connect local production more closely with actual consumer demand.According to the official, the concept was initially tested during Ramadan and Eid al-Adha, when demand for livestock and red meat traditionally rises significantly.The experience produced positive results and encouraged the two sides to move from a seasonal initiative toward a permanent, year-round marketing programme.The 2026 Eid al-Adha national initiative provides a useful indication of the scale of livestock demand in Qatar.The Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MoCI), in co-ordination with the Ministry of Municipality, allocated 12,500 head of livestock for the 2026 programme, covering both locally bred and imported animals.Widam reported that it had approximately 10,000 head of livestock available during the initiative to meet rising consumer demand.The government initiative also set the price of a locally bred sheep at QR1,000, equal to the price of an imported sheep, demonstrating the role of local livestock in national seasonal supply programmes.Animals were made available through Widam facilities in Al Shamal, Al Khor, Umm Salal, Al Wakrah, Al Shahaniya and Abu Nakhla, as well as through the company's electronic application.The new partnership comes against the backdrop of Qatar's long-running efforts to increase the contribution of domestic agricultural and livestock production to national food security.
Tuesday, September 15, 2026
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Daily Newspaper published by GPPC Doha, Qatar.
