The 9th Local Dates Exhibition started at Souq Waqif yesterday with the participation of more than 110 local farms featuring several local varieties.
Organised by Souq Waqif Management in co-operation with the Agricultural Affairs Department of the Ministry of Municipality, the exhibition also showcases date products such as syrup, cakes, juices and ice cream. Also, the ministry has set up counters to display date farming techniques.
Souq Waqif director Mohamed Abdullah al-Salem said that the exhibition marks an increase in the number of participating farms and customers year after year while becoming an ideal venue for marketing local dates. He noted that the response from the farmers and the customers is positive.
Ahmed Salem al-Yafei, head of the Agricultural Extension and Services Department at the Ministry of Municipality, said the growing number of participating farms and visitors bear witness to the good response evoked by the annual exhibition. Al-Yafie said a special exhibition of figs and almonds will be held at the exhibition on Thursday.
The festival is held in the eastern square of Souq Waqif in an air-conditioned tent. To run until August 3, the exhibition is open to the public from 4 pm to 9 pm. On Friday, the festival is held from 4 pm to 10 pm.
The annual festival features all Qatari varieties of dates including Al Khalas, Al Khenaizi, Al Shishi, Al Barhi, Al Saqai, Al Razizi, Nabt Saif and Al Lulu.
Last year, the sales witnessed a record 220 tonnes and the authorities expect to exceed this number in this edition due to the high quality of Qatari dates.
In the 9th edition, the organising committee has set conditions for participation. The dates must be good, clean and free of infections, insects, and impurities. A team of specialists from the Agricultural Affairs Department takes samples of the wetlands of the participating farms for examination and analysis in order to ensure that they are free of toxic substances and any remaining traces of pesticides.
