Ministry of Municipality, Mahaseel launch guarantee programme to support local farms

QNA – Doha:

The Ministry of Municipality and Environment, in cooperation with Mahaseel, launched the guarantee programme to support local farmers by signing contracts in advance to purchase their vegetable products for the 2020/2021 season with the aim of setting guaranteed prices for the purchase of local farm products and for farmers to prepare their production plan according to the needs of the market.

The new programme requires farmers to sign contracts with Mahaseel for 12 types of basic vegetables: tomatoes, cucumbers, green pepper, pepper, eggplant, Roman lettuce, American lettuce, sesame, parsley, mint, green onion and dill.

The ministry explained that the contract for the 2020/2021 season between farmers and Mahaseel to grow the aforementioned crops will be at incentive prices for farmers, guaranteeing them the best income. The ministry pointed out that this season will be for the first time through the guarantee programme to contract for first and second class vegetables at great prices.

The ministry said that through the guarantee programme, the average contract prices for basic vegetables is about QR 5 per kilogram, along with fixed guarantee rates for the first and second class of vegetables throughout the season, regardless of market prices. 

ministry called on farmers to initiate registration for pre-contract early with Mahaseel to develop their production plans, sell at high guarantee prices, and achieve distinct income for their farms, adding that registration is open until Oct. 31, 2020.