Marked drop in prices of locally-produced vegetables
The prices of locally produced vegetables have seen a considerable drop compared to the prices of the previous weeks at the yards for selling local agriculture products due to the good yield of the agriculture season, local Arabic daily Arrayah reported.
Many Qatari farms have introduced their various products at the market including some new varieties for the first time locally such as sugarcane, and types of broccoli, pumpkin, corn and others.
However, zucchini and cucumber were sold at high prices of QR30 for the big box and QR15 for the small box. Other prices for different types of vegetables were seen as good by customers. For instance a box of eggplants sold for QR6, broccoli QR8, green beans QR16, sweet pepper QR11, hot pepper QR10 and other leafy vegetables QR3 for two bundles.
Speaking to Arrayah, a number of Qataris stressed there are good quantities of vegetables at the yards with the supply increasing steadily throughout the past weeks. Besides, a number of farmers pointed out that the locally produced tomatoes are set to be on display at the market within a month. The use of sophisticated technology by local farms and the great support and encouragement of the entities concerned in the country have considerably contributed towards extending the local agriculture season overcoming the environmental challenges. This has also contributed to stabilising the prices of vegetables.
According to the recent figures released by the Ministry of Municipality and Environment regarding sales during December at the yards for selling local agriculture products at Al Mazrouah, Al Wakrah, Al Khor and Al Zakhira, Al Sheehaniya and Al Shamal amounted to 1,068 tonnes of vegetables, 701 tonnes of fruits, 14 tonnes of fish and 2,691 tray of eggs. In addition, 7,110 domestic birds were sold, besides 584kg of natural honey, 1,338 heads of sheep and goats with 1,008 of them slaughtered at Al Mazrouah slaughterhouse. Similarly, a good quantity of livestock fodder was sold.
Many customers felt these yards should function daily as they provide good quality products at reasonable prices.