Locally produced vegetables much cheaper since start of blockade

The prices of locally produced vegetables have witnessed a considerable drop at the Doha Central Market, by around 50 percent at times, in contrast to the same season prior to the blockade two years ago.

Qatar has taken great strides in ensuring self-sufficiency in food ever since the Gulf crisis erupted in June 2017.

Fuelled by its drive to excel in all fields, the country enhanced its focus and support for local agricultural production by adopting latest technologies while encouraging local farmers and farm owners to further improve farming outcomes. 

According to a report in local Arabic daily, Arrayah, many Qataris have urged for the continuation of these efforts to ensure the availability of local vegetables in the market through the year.

This would help in reducing dependency on imported agricultural products.

With slight variations, prices of vegetables at the Doha Central Market are generally reasonable at this time of the year.

As reported by Gulf Times, a box of tomatoes weighing around 5kg was priced between QR15 and QR20, while an 8kg box of eggplants cost QR20. Similarly, a 6kg box of cabbages cost QR5-7, 5kg zucchini QR15 and 5kg white onions QR15. The price of a box of cauliflowers, weighing some 7kg, was QR15.

Watermelons are priced around QR10 a piece for the Iranian and Omani varieties, while sweet melon was sold for QR15 for the box of 5-6 pieces.

A shopper at the market Ali Saleem said the local vegetables currently on display at the market are of a higher quality than the imported ones and the prices are excellent, in comparison to those offered in the retail market across the country.

Mohamed al-Jabir stressed that such positive results would not have been achieved in the farm sector without the support provided by the government to local producers.

Local farms have made significant efforts to meet market needs with adequate quantities of vegetables to address any shortage momentarily caused by the blockade, he added.

Have you been to Doha Central Market this season? Share your experience with us in the comments below!

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Source: Gulf Times