- Title: Qatari company launches organic mushroom production
- Date: 10th November 2016
- Summary: AL KHOR, QATAR (NOVEMBER 6, 2016) (REUTERS) SHELVES CONTAINING PLANTED MUSHROOMS WORKERS HARVESTING MUSHROOMS MUSHROOM ON SHELVES MUSHROOMS ON SHELVES HEAD OF AGRICULTURE PROJECTS AT AGRICO COMPANY, NASSER AL-KHALAF, AND MANAGER OF THE MUSHROOM FARM, OMAR HAQY, TALKING (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) HEAD OF AGRICULTURE PROJECTS AT AGRICO COMPANY, NASSER AL-KHALAF, SAYING: "We started mushroom production in 2016. We set up a compost yard. Production goes through several phases, the first is soil preparation. The soil is composed of hay, agriculture gypsum and bird manure that are mixed together, fermented and then pasteurised. It is then ready to be used in the rooms. Soil preparation takes four weeks and then we need another four weeks for mushrooms to grow." WORKER PICKING UP MUSHROOMS WORKER CUTTING MUSHROOM (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) HEAD OF AGRICULTURE PROJECTS AT AGRICO COMPANY, NASSER AL-KHALAF, SAYING: "We produce one tonne of mushrooms daily. Starting next year, we plan to produce between three and four tonnes. We have a market share of about 30% of the local mushroom market. We usually export 20% of our production to neighbouring countries like Bahrain and Saudi Arabia." MANAGER OF THE MUSHROOM FARM, OMAR HAQY, TALKING TO NASSER (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) MANAGER OF THE MUSHROOM FARM, OMAR HAQY, SAYING: "Mushroom is produced in temperature-controlled rooms anywhere in the world, whether in northern parts of the world, in the south, in the desert. The required temperature is 18 degrees. They grow in a controlled environment in insulated rooms. The cooling cost is an obstacle in some countries. In Gulf countries we have an advantage because energy is relatively cheap. However, farms in Gulf countries have additional costs due to importing most of the material they need." WORK IN PROGRESS AT COMPOST YARD WORKER'S HAND PUTTING MUSHROOM SEEDS IN THE COMPOST VARIOUS OF COMPOST MOVING ON BELT CHAIRMAN OF INTERNATIONAL PROJECTS DEVELOPMENT COMPANY, AHMED AL-KHALEF, READING (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) CHAIRMAN OF INTERNATIONAL PROJECTS DEVELOPMENT COMPANY, AHMED AL-KHALEF, SAYING: "Agriculture production is the most difficult type of food production for various reasons. In Qatar, the area suitable for agriculture is limited, the climate is not suitable for farming and the water is salty and scarce. Traditionally, Qataris were not farmers." WORKERS PACKING MUSHROOMS PACKAGING MACHINE VARIOUS OF WORKER PUTTING MUSHROOM PACKS IN CARTON WORKER PUTTING STICKER ON THE PACKS WORK IN PROGRESS
- Embargoed: 25th November 2016 11:07
- Keywords: Qatar mushrooms farming organic
- Location: AL KHOR, QATAR
- City: AL KHOR, QATAR
- Country: Qatar
- Topics: Economic Events
- Reuters ID: LVA00157UZM1H
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Fresh organic Qatar grown mushrooms appeared in the Gulf state's supermarkets this year after a local company started producing button mushrooms.
According to Agrico Company a tonne of organic mushrooms are produced daily on its 10,000 square-metre farm in Al Khor city, north of the capital Doha.
The head of agriculture projects at Agrico Company, Nasser al-Khalaf, says the firm invested about 10 million Qatari riyals ($2.75 million) in the project.
"We started mushroom production in 2016. We set up a compost yard. Production goes through several phases, the first is soil preparation. The soil is composed of hay, agriculture gypsum and bird manure that are mixed together, fermented and then pasteurised. It is then ready to be used in the rooms. Soil preparation takes four weeks and then we need another four weeks for mushrooms to grow," said Nasser al-Khalaf.
The company hopes to increase its production over the coming year to expand its market share and overtake imported products -- Arid Gulf nations like Qatar are largely dependant on food imports.
"We produce one tonne of mushrooms daily. Starting next year, we plan to produce between three and four tonnes. We have a market share of about 30% of the local mushroom market. We usually export 20% of our production to neighbouring countries like Bahrain and Saudi Arabia," he said.
The mushrooms at the facility are grown indoors in temperature controlled conditions, as farm manager Omar Haqy explains.
"The required temperature is 18 degrees. They grow in a controlled environment in insulated rooms. The cooling cost is an obstacle in some countries. In Gulf countries we have an advantage because energy is relatively cheap. However, farms in Gulf countries have additional costs due to importing most of the material they need,'' he said.
Imported soil is the biggest production cost involved in mushroom cultivation.
Qatar's environment is hostile to agriculture, characterized by extreme heat, water scarcity and high soil salinity.
Agrico attempted to overcome the challenge by setting up its own compost yard, where high quality soil is produced specifically for growing mushrooms.
Local mushrooms also have the advantage of being fresh as they reach the market within 24 hours of harvest.
The chairman of International Projects Development Company, the mother company for Agrico, said growing food in Qatar is a challenge due to its dry climate.
"Agriculture production is the most difficult type of food production for various reasons. In Qatar the area suitable for agriculture is limited, the climate is not suitable for farming and the water is salty and scarce. Traditionally, Qataris were not farmers," said Ahmed al-Khalef.
In addition to mushrooms, the company produces pesticide-free tomatoes, peppers, cucumber and zucchini, mostly in green houses.
The production of these home grown crops is one way to ensure that the country becomes more self-sufficient in food. In recent Qatar has announced plans to produce most of its food domestically, by spending massively to boost crop yields and convert semi-desert into agricultural land. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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