Agriculture

Qatar plans to increase arable land

Qatar is set to increase the arable land area in the country with the support of cutting-edge technology and engineering tools. The State is working to provide sufficient quantity of water for farmers by tapping the huge solar energy potential in a bid to multiply agriculture production, according to the Qatar National Food Security Programme (QNFSP). The QNFSP, armed with a 14-member task force, is responsible for delivering coordinated and transparent policies for food security in the country. The initiative is led by the Heir Apparent Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani. Fahad Al Attiya, Chairman of QNFSP, said the task force has embarked on developing a comprehensive food security policy for Qatar. There would be added focus on cutting the cost to farmers and launching more solar energy-powered desalination plants to ensure water supply to farmers. Qatar imports 90 per cent of its food requirements as local production is relatively low. Only one-third of the arable land occupied by farmers is being cultivated, and agricultural production here has dropped 0.5 per cent. Produce has been largely limited because of water scarcity and ground water table depletion, poor soil quality, as well as unfavorable climate for farming.

Jordanian agriculture ministry says products enter Iraq again

Jordanian Agriculture Minister Saeed el-Masry said that shipments of Jordanian agricultural products have “already” entered Iraq again, according to Jordanian press. “Several Iraqi importers and merchants have received licenses from the organizations concerned there,” Masry said. He added that his ministry has received confirmations from the Iraqi agriculture and trade ministries to give the thumbs up to entry of Jordanian agro-products again into the Iraqi market. The Jordanian official expressed “appreciation for the Iraqi authorities for response to re-open import of Jordanian agricultural products”.

Jordan to resume exports to Saudi Arabia next summer

The Kingdom is expected to resume agricultural exports to Saudi Arabia in the summer of 2010, an official said. Adnan Abdul Nour, agriculture ministry assistant secretary general for Agricultural Produce, said the ministry will spend the next few months studying the needs of the Saudi Arabian market, noting that the Gulf kingdom tends to import fruits and vegetables from Jordan in the summertime. He said that a technical team from Saudi Arabia's agriculture ministry was on an official visit to Jordan earlier in December to inspect agricultural production sites and water resources used for irrigation purposes. During the visit, officials from both sides discussed procedures taken by the ministry to ensure "high-quality" agricultural produce, Abdul Nour added. "The delegation has visited many agricultural sites and was briefed on the progress achieved in the sector over the past few years," he said, noting that the Saudi team was "impressed by the advanced techniques" being used in irrigation and wastewater treatment. Tours included the Khirbet Al Samra Wastewater Treatment Plant, where the delegation inspected the plant's filtering system, he added, underlining efforts to meet international standards regarding water pollution.

Egypt to grow wheat in Uganda

Uganda has agreed to allow Egypt to cultivate wheat on Ugandan soil. Egyptian Prime Minister Ahmed Nazif and Ugandan Prime Minister Apollo Nsibambi announced that an Egyptian committee to inspect Ugandan farmland will be sent to the East African nation, following several previous delegations. Egypt, the world’s largest importer of wheat at approximately 7 million tons per annum, has announced several strategic partnerships to increase its food security. Akila Hamza, coordinator of the Food Security Information Center (FSIC), stated that a Food Security Policy Board has recently been set up to coordinate policy to strengthen Egypt’s food security. “The FSIC will serve as the technical arm of this board,” she explained, stating that the FSIC supports international collaboration for ensuring Egypt’s food supply. The FSIC, established two years ago, “surveys different governorates to establish their vulnerability [to food shortages],” Hamza said, “and studies the impact of the international food crisis on Egypt.” The global food shortages in 2007/2008 prompted Egypt to partner with Sudan to grow wheat in May 2008. Agricultural Minister Amin Abaza announced at the time that 1.3 million acres of farmland near the shared border town of Wadi Halfa would be used to cultivate wheat for both Egypt and Sudan, in an effort to help both countries rely less on external sources of the staple food.