Doha, February 19 (QNA) - Demand for dates is witnessing a marked increase during the holy month of Ramadan, driven by dietary traditions associated with fasting. At the same time, market supply remains diverse and robust, benefiting from continued government support that has strengthened domestic production to approximately 24,000 tons in 2025, underscoring the product's ample availability in local markets.

The Ministry of Municipality places significant emphasis on agriculture with the aim of expanding the number of productive farms and improving crop quality. This is achieved by providing support for agricultural inputs to local farmers, in addition to technical and advisory support.

Regarding date palm cultivation, the Ministry's efforts are particularly evident in its provision of pest control services, most notably combating the red palm weevil, through field visits to farms. A total of 1,376 field visits were conducted last year, with projections indicating this figure will rise to 1,500 visits in 2026. The Ministry has also introduced modern technologies in irrigation and production systems tailored to local environmental conditions.

Speaking to Qatar News Agency (QNA), Assistant Director of the Agricultural Affairs Department at the Ministry of Municipality Adel Al Yafei affirmed that the Ministry continues to support the agricultural sector, with date palm cultivation being a top priority, given that dates are a strategic crop.

He pointed out that the Ministry contributes to marketing Qatari fresh dates through local agricultural produce markets and retail outlets, as well as through agricultural festivals, events, and exhibitions, including the Qatar International Agricultural Exhibition "AgriteQ 2026", which is considered an integrated agricultural system, and the Local Dates Festival, held annually in cooperation with Souq Waqif, where farm owners are able to showcase and sell their products directly to consumers at competitive prices.

Al Yafei added that the country's date production in 2025 reached approximately 24,000 tons of various main varieties, including Khalas, Shishi, Barhi, and Khunaizi.

He further explained that an annual project has been implemented since 2006 to purchase locally produced dates from registered farms, with an annual budget of QAR 10 million to support the initiative.

Approximately 860 tons of dates are purchased annually from local farms and processed by two domestic factories.

The Assistant Director emphasized that Qatar's agricultural sector holds promising opportunities for growth and expansion under continued government support, alongside rising consumer awareness of the importance of local products. This, he said, further strengthens the position of Qatari dates and agricultural products in the market.

It is worth noting that a portion of the locally processed dates is marketed, while the remainder is distributed to charitable organizations in the country, such as the Qatar Red Crescent and Qatar Charity, for delivery to targeted countries as part of relief and development programs. These projects encourage local farmers to develop date palm cultivation and improve product quality, while also contributing to reducing date losses. (QNA)