Farming in Qatar remains challenging: Businessman


18 April 2010
DOHA: A number of farms in the north of the country are being turned into livestock raising facilities since their owners do not see any economic benefit in pursuing cultivation.

Farming in Qatar remains a challenging business not only because of harsh climatic conditions and lack of water but also because state backing to the sector is nil or negligible.

And whatever little quantities of vegetables are grown in the country also face a serious threat as farmers are switching fast to animal feed cultivation due to skyrocketing prices.

Animal feed commands almost three times the price in Qatar as in other GCC countries due to rapidly growing demand.

Says Mohamed Al Obaidly, who owns the country’s oldest agriculture-linked business: “In the absence of state support and agricultural research centres, people who are into farming have been moving into other businesses.”

There are no nurseries where quality seeds and saplings are available and then, there are no research and development centres devoted to agriculture, he says.

Al Obaidly is of the opinion that if the government is serious about backing the agricultural sector, it must set up an agency as a first step and this agency must actively coordinate with other state agencies to provide the necessary support to farmers.

According to Mubarak Al Hajri, who owns farms and is into other businesses as well, licensing procedures to set up an agricultural business are time-consuming and entail a lot of paperwork.

“These procedures should be simplified in the first place and then, research centres should be set up and enough incentives should be provided to those who want to pursue agriculture,” says Al Hajri.

He argues that new technologies are available which can help desert land support cultivation.

Then, there are desert plants that can grow in desert climate. “We must focus on such plants. They need brackish water which we have aplenty. These plants can be used to turn our coastline green,” argues Al Hajri.

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