Tribune News Network
Doha
The ninth Souq Waqif Local Dates Exhibition for the year 2024 being organised by the Souq Waqif administration, in cooperation with the Agricultural Affairs Department at the Ministry of Municipality, will open on Tuesday, July 23, in the eastern square of Souq Waqif, with wide participation from local farms.
The exhibition, which will run until August 3, comes within the framework of the great interest that Qatar attaches to supporting and encouraging local production of all national products, including dates, in conjunction with the date production season in the country, with the aim of supporting efforts to achieve food security.
The exhibition also aimed at developing the agricultural sector, including date palms, and supporting farm owners and those interested in date cultivation and improving date varieties in the country.
Mohammed Abdullah Al Salem, director of Souq Waqif Administration, said the place allocated for the exhibition has been prepared with all necessary equipment by the management of Souq Waqif, adding that the air-conditioned tent in which the exhibition will be held has been erected in the eastern square of Souq Waqif and the exhibition will open its doors to the public every day from 4pm to 9pm, except for Friday from 4pm to 10pm.
He said the market is keen to organise this exhibition annually in order to support local farms, given that Souq Waqif is distinguished as a prominent and important heritage and tourism destination for citizens, residents and tourists alike, in addition to its distinguished location in the centre of Doha, which makes it easily accessible for everyone.
Salem added that the current edition also witnesses wide participation from local farms with all types of date products that are produced locally, in addition to the sale of date extracts.
He said the Souq Waqif Dates Exhibition has a great reputation, as sales of the previous edition witnessed a record number of 220 tonnes.
For his part, Yousef Khaled Al Khulaifi, director of the Agricultural Affairs Department at the Ministry of Municipality, stated that the exhibition, which is being held in its ninth season, aims to promote date production and introduce its various types, in addition to encouraging local farm owners to find an outlet to display and market their products directly to the public.
He added that the exhibition will help farmers increase their sales volume and enhance their ability to increase production and develop its marketing method.
More than 100 specialised local farms will participate in the exhibition. According to the organising committee’s requirements for participation in the exhibition, all dates must be good, clean and free of infections, insects and impurities.
A team of specialists from the Agricultural Affairs Department will also take samples of the wetlands of the participating farms for examination and analysis in order to ensure that they are free of toxic substances and any traces of pesticides.