Eight projects to produce 220 million table eggs

QNA
The Ministry of Municipality and the Environment (MME) and Qatar Development Bank (QDB) yesterday launched an initiative to encourage the production of table eggs in Qatari farms on the sidelines of the 7th Qatar International Agriculture Exhibition (AgriteQ) and the first Qatar International Environmental Exhibition (EnviroteQ) held at the Doha Exhibition and Convention Center (DECC).

Speaking at a press conference, Director of Animal Wealth Department at the MME, Engineer Abdulaziz Al Zeyara, said that the aim of this joint initiative is to achieve food security in Qatar, pointing out that the idea is aimed at allowing Qatari farmers to set up table egg production projects within registered farms, financed by QDB, and contributing to an increase in egg production and achieving food security.

Al Zeyara indicated that the initiative includes the establishment of eight medium-sized projects to produce table eggs in registered farms. The four projects each with a production capacity of 22 million eggs per year and four other projects each with a production capacity of 33 million eggs per year, with a total production of 220 million eggs per year.

He pointed out that the production of these projects will raise the level of self-sufficiency in the state of table eggs from 28 percent to 65 percent, indicating that these projects will be subject to full technical support by specialists in the Ministry. Applicant for these projects shall be Qatari and should own a registered farm free from any irregularities, and at a suitable location for the establishment of the project.

He announced that the farms will be opened within three months starting from March 24. Director of Animal Wealth Department at the MME reiterated that this initiative comes in the light of the constructive cooperation between the MME and QDB in order to enhance agricultural production and raise self-sufficiency ratio of high value animal products, thus contributing to food security in Qatar.

Executive Director of Development Department at QBD, Khalid Abdulla Al Mana, said that this initiative is the result of joint efforts between the MME and the bank to ensure self-reliance in the production of this strategic food product.

He pointed out that in accordance with QDB’s ambitious strategy, the bank seeks to achieve a high percentage of self-sufficiency in various productive sectors, whether industrial or agricultural, adding that the bank has continuous and close cooperation with all Ministries and competent authorities in the State to find appropriate and effective mechanisms for the development of all productive sectors in the country, especially projects related to food security.

Al Mana stressed that this initiative is the best proof of the bank’s keenness to develop all economic sectors in Qatar and to contribute effectively to sustainable development in line with the Qatar National Vision 2030.

He added that the launch of the table egg initiative in Qatari farms is part of the Bank’s initiatives and programs aimed at developing the Qatari private sector, especially the agricultural and livestock sector, which is the main pillar for diversifying the resources of the national economy.

Through this initiative, the bank aims to encourage Qatari farmers to set up projects to produce table eggs within the country’s registered farms, reflecting the bank’s drive to accelerate the self-sufficiency of animal products in general and table eggs in particular as an important food product.

He also addressed QDB’s requirements to grant the investor loan to build his project, calling on all Qatari farm owners to apply and take advantage of this extraordinary opportunity.

أطلقت وزارة البلدية والبيئة وبنك قطر للتنمية أمس، مبادرة لتشجيع إنتاج بيض المائدة في المزارع القطرية، وقال المهندس عبدالعزيز الزيارة -مدير إدارة الثروة الحيوانية بالوزارة- في مؤتمر صحافي: إن هدف هذه المبادرة يتمثل في تحقيق الأمن الغذائي بالدولة، وأضاف أن المبادرة تتضمن إقامة 8 مشاريع متوسطة وفوق المتوسطة لإنتاج بيض المائدة بالمزارع المسجلة، بواقع 4 مشاريع متوسطة بطاقة إنتاجية تبلغ لكل مشروع 22 مليون بيضة سنوياً، و4 مشاريع أخرى فوق المتوسطة بطاقة إنتاجية لكل منها تبلغ نحو 33 مليون بيضة، أي بإجمالي إنتاج 220 مليون بيضة في السنة.