30 July 2016
Doha - The Agricultural Affairs Department at the Ministry of Municipality and Environment is gearing up to open two new winter markets in Al Ruwais and Muaither, a ministry official said yesterday.

The markets are likely to open in December in time for the coming 2016-2017 winter season.

"We are going to launch two new winter markets this year, one in Al Ruwais and the other in Muaither.

"The opening could be in December," Yousef Al Khulaifi, Director, Department of Agricultural Affairs at the ministry, told The Peninsula.

At the moment, the ministry is yet to finalise the exact locations of the markets. "Until now, we do not know the exact sites for the new winter markets, because we haven't yet secured the approval for the locations from the authorities concerned," said Al Khulaifi.

The markets will provide a wide variety of vegetable and poultry products from local farms at attractive prices.

They will also offer an opportunity for farmers to sell their produce directly to consumers.

The new markets will be a significant addition to the existing one -- Al Mazroua, Al Khor-Al Dakhira and Al Wakra, which sell agricultural products.

"In the coming season this year, the winter vegetable markets will open earlier -- by more than two weeks.

"During the previous season, the markets were open from November to May," Al Khulaifi said, adding the winter markets could open some 10 days earlier compared to the previous season.

On the decision to extend the operation of the winter markets last season from six months to seven, he said: "It was a challenging experience, but we succeeded and all vegetables sold were locally produced," he added.

2015-2016 season saw increase in sales at winter markets

The 2015-2016 season saw increase in sales at the winter vegetable' markets.

Al Khor-Dakhira yard sold about 1156.7 tonnes of vegetables and Al Mazroua yard 1,779.3 tonnes. Al Wakra yard achieved sales of about 1,140.1 tonnes of vegetables. Some 77 local farms participated last season, including 33 in Al Mazroua, 22 in Al Khor-Al Dakhira and 22 in Al Wakra.

During the 2014-15 season, Al Khor-Dakhira yard sold 1,078.1 tonnes of vegetables and Al Mazroua yard sold 1,421 tonnes.

Al Wakra yard sold 1,118.5 tonnes of vegetables, Al Khulaifi had earlier told this daily. The coming 2016-2017 season is expected to start in November or even earlier, said Al Khulaifi.

The markets will be open on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays from 7am to 5pm.

© The Peninsula 2016