*Fourth edition of Mahaseel Festival gets under way at Katara
*This year's event sees a significant increase in the number of participants
The fourth edition of Mahaseel (arabic word meaning 'harvest') festival kicked off Monday along with the inauguration of Qatar's first Farmer's Forum Office at Katara - The Cultural Village.
Mahaseel, organised in co-operation with the Ministry of Municipality and Environment (MME), is taking place at Katara’s southern area (opposite of St Regis Doha), offering a wide range of agricultural products from Qatari farms and companies.
The Farmers’ Forum office in Building 47 of Katara is aimed at bringing farm owners together to exchange expertise and experiences.
The festival’s opening was attended by Katara general manager Dr Khalid bin Ibrahim al-Sulaiti, MME’s Agriculture and Fisheries Affairs Assistant Undersecretary Dr Sheikh Faleh bin Nasser al-Thani, and Mahaseel’s Organising Committee chairman Sulaiman al-Nuaimi, as well as representatives of participating national companies, among others.
Dr al-Sulaiti said that Mahaseel serves as a platform for local farms and national companies specialised in food production to promote and sell their products directly to customers at competitive prizes.
He noted that the festival contributes significantly in further improving the quality of fresh produce and food products in the country.
The annual event, which will run until December 28, forms part of Katara’s initiatives to support government efforts to achieve Qatar’s National Vision 2030 especially in food security and self-sufficiency. From January 2020, the Mahaseel market will be open every Thursday, Friday and Saturday until March 31.
According to the organisers, the number of participants at the festival has substantially increased from 22 in 2018 to 34 in this latest edition, representing several local farms and national companies.
The pavilions are comprised of 27 local farms specialised in the production of various vegetables (such as cucumbers, lettuce, capsicum, tomatoes, zucchini, eggplants, jalapeno, cabbage, and many others), honey, and dates; and a number of national companies which produce dairy, juices, poultry, and eggs.
Widam Food, known as the largest national company supplying red meat in the local market, and six farms specialised in producing flowers, roses and other ornamental plants are also participating in the festival.
Apart from agricultural products, organisers will also hold workshops, seminars, recreational and educational activities on the sidelines of Mahaseel aimed at raising public awareness on the importance of local farming and food production, and the agriculture sector’s key role and contribution to the country’s economy.
The festival also features food trucks and several food outlets, giving visitors many options to choose from such as freshly cooked local dishes, burgers, sweets, and other delicacies.
An inflatable play area has been built at the venue for young children to enjoy, as well as a temporary dome housing a number of VR (virtual reality) and fun-filled games.
The festival’s venue has colourful gardens and landscapes filled with different kinds of flowers such as roses, sunflowers, lilies, and orchids, among others, providing a conducive and welcoming environment for visitors.
The venue features colourful gardens and landscapes filled with different kinds of flowers, providing a conducive and welcoming environment for festival-goers
Freshly cooked local dishes on offer at the festival
An array of fresh produce from Qatari farms on display at the festival
Some 34 pavilions offer a variety of fresh produce and other agri products at Mahaseel
The latest edition of Mahaseel festival offers a variety of flowers and other ornamental plants
Some 34 pavilions offer a variety of fresh produce and other agri products at Mahaseel
The latest edition of Mahaseel festival offers a variety of flowers and other ornamental plants
The Farmers’ Forum office in Building 47 of Katara is aimed at bringing farm owners together to exchange expertise and experiences.
The festival’s opening was attended by Katara general manager Dr Khalid bin Ibrahim al-Sulaiti, MME’s Agriculture and Fisheries Affairs Assistant Undersecretary Dr Sheikh Faleh bin Nasser al-Thani, and Mahaseel’s Organising Committee chairman Sulaiman al-Nuaimi, as well as representatives of participating national companies, among others.
Dr al-Sulaiti said that Mahaseel serves as a platform for local farms and national companies specialised in food production to promote and sell their products directly to customers at competitive prizes.
He noted that the festival contributes significantly in further improving the quality of fresh produce and food products in the country.
The annual event, which will run until December 28, forms part of Katara’s initiatives to support government efforts to achieve Qatar’s National Vision 2030 especially in food security and self-sufficiency. From January 2020, the Mahaseel market will be open every Thursday, Friday and Saturday until March 31.
According to the organisers, the number of participants at the festival has substantially increased from 22 in 2018 to 34 in this latest edition, representing several local farms and national companies.
The pavilions are comprised of 27 local farms specialised in the production of various vegetables (such as cucumbers, lettuce, capsicum, tomatoes, zucchini, eggplants, jalapeno, cabbage, and many others), honey, and dates; and a number of national companies which produce dairy, juices, poultry, and eggs.
Widam Food, known as the largest national company supplying red meat in the local market, and six farms specialised in producing flowers, roses and other ornamental plants are also participating in the festival.
Apart from agricultural products, organisers will also hold workshops, seminars, recreational and educational activities on the sidelines of Mahaseel aimed at raising public awareness on the importance of local farming and food production, and the agriculture sector’s key role and contribution to the country’s economy.
The festival also features food trucks and several food outlets, giving visitors many options to choose from such as freshly cooked local dishes, burgers, sweets, and other delicacies.
An inflatable play area has been built at the venue for young children to enjoy, as well as a temporary dome housing a number of VR (virtual reality) and fun-filled games.
The festival’s venue has colourful gardens and landscapes filled with different kinds of flowers such as roses, sunflowers, lilies, and orchids, among others, providing a conducive and welcoming environment for visitors.
