Doha, Qatar Wednesday 3 June 2009: Hassad Qatar, a company established to achieve current and future food security for the State of Qatar, has announced the execution of three new projects at Alsaileya, Alrefaa and Umm Salal, in addition to the expansion of Arkiya Farm and the company's use of tripartite treated water to achieve self-sufficiency in fodder for the local market.

Hassad Qatar has successfully expanded its 162-acre Arkiya Farm project by importing and installing two nine-tower, 132-acre central irrigation systems and one 30-acre central irrigation system. In addition the company has constructed a new reservoir to increase its treated water storage capacity from 21,000 to 73,500 cubic meters.

The expanded area will produce 35,000 pale every harvest, a total of around 280,000 pale (5,600 tons) per year with its first harvest due in September. Following the new investment and expansion, total annual Arkiya Farm production will reach 10,400 tons of Rodes fodder.

The success of Arkiya Farm has motivated Hassad Qatar to begin similar projects in various regions of Qatar. Therefore the company is executing three new projects at Alsaileya, Alrefaa and Umm Salal commencing July 2009. In total, the three new projects will cover a planted area of 275.5 acres, in addition to 15 acres at Umm Salal.

Announcing the company's first harvest of Rodes and Barsim crops, in January 2009 production reached 18,000 pale, while a second harvest in March 2009 produced 36,000 pale.

Meanwhile the company's Umm Salal project is cultivating Bioponic fodder as a further fodder option and is currently studying how its livestock adapt to the new foodstuff. The company believes Bioponic fodder will help diversify its animal food sources, reducing imports and decreasing costs for livestock owners.

Hassad Qatar presents its gratitude and appreciation to the Ministry of Environment for supporting and assisting livestock owners by permitting the company to establish centers among sheepfold gatherings to distribute fodder daily. This process makes it easier for livestock owners to get fodder quickly and at lower cost.

Hassad Qatar extended its thanks and appreciations to the Ministry of Municipalities and Urban Planning for its continuous support and facilities by offering land for the company's projects.

The company declared that livestock owners can get the Acquisition card feed produced by the company upon their attendance to the new building opposite to Hyatt Plaza next to Garden Petrol Station. The company urges all others who don't have a card yet to issue new ones in order to benefit from the products of the company.

In this occasion, Hassad Qatar expressed its gratitude to the efforts of BARWA Real Estate which has established Hassad project by recognizing the importance of increasing fodder production, along with health and environmental precautions adopted by Hassad Qatar.

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For further information, please contact:
Laila Chehayber,
Senior Account Manager,
Cohn&Wolfe
Telephone: 974 428 3126

© Press Release 2009