Qatar is witnessing remarkable growth in local sheep production, making a significant contribution to food security in the country, according to a report in local Arabic daily Arrayah.
Sheep supply increased by nearly three times during Ramadan this year compared to 2021, and by nine times compared to 2020, the Arrayah report said. A total of 26,300 sheep were given to Widam Food Company this year while the number stood at 9,801 in 2021. In 2018, 3,000 sheep were procured by Widam.
This achievement comes as a result of the schemes introduced by the Ministry of Municipality supporting local farmers and sheep production. The ministry, in a statement to Arrayah, said self-sufficiency in dairy production has reached 100%, while it was about 28% in 2016, while self sufficiency in red meat production is 18% compared to about 14% in 2016.
“There has been a development in the contribution of the farmer to food security. The ministry is implementing development strategies for the development of livestock,”the ministry said, noting the interest of the country in its various sectors to ensure the continuity of achieving food security and to transform the country’s market from consuming to remunerative.
“The cooperation between the government side and the private sector, represented by the farmers, has resulted in developing the rates of self-sufficiency in animal products to rates set by Qatar. It’s ranked first in the Arab world and 24th globally in the Global Food Security Index,” the statement explained.
“This development is due to the government's support to encourage local production of sheep by purchasing locally produced sheep by Widam Food Company at competitive prices. Also, there is supply of feed that enables the continuity of production,” the statement said.
The ministry said that free animal health services are provided through the veterinary centres across Qatar. These are therapeutic services, preventive services including vaccination, combating external parasites by spraying animals and laboratory examination of breeding animals.
This achievement comes as a result of the schemes introduced by the Ministry of Municipality supporting local farmers and sheep production. The ministry, in a statement to Arrayah, said self-sufficiency in dairy production has reached 100%, while it was about 28% in 2016, while self sufficiency in red meat production is 18% compared to about 14% in 2016.
“There has been a development in the contribution of the farmer to food security. The ministry is implementing development strategies for the development of livestock,”the ministry said, noting the interest of the country in its various sectors to ensure the continuity of achieving food security and to transform the country’s market from consuming to remunerative.
“The cooperation between the government side and the private sector, represented by the farmers, has resulted in developing the rates of self-sufficiency in animal products to rates set by Qatar. It’s ranked first in the Arab world and 24th globally in the Global Food Security Index,” the statement explained.
“This development is due to the government's support to encourage local production of sheep by purchasing locally produced sheep by Widam Food Company at competitive prices. Also, there is supply of feed that enables the continuity of production,” the statement said.
The ministry said that free animal health services are provided through the veterinary centres across Qatar. These are therapeutic services, preventive services including vaccination, combating external parasites by spraying animals and laboratory examination of breeding animals.
