MME launches Dates Week 2021 at LuLu outlets

The Ministry of Municipality and Environment's (MME) Agriculture Affairs Department launched on Monday the local dates week in co-operation with LuLu Hypermarket Qatar under the motto 'The dates week 2021' at Lulu Gharrafa.

The event was launched in the presence of the department's director Yousef Khalid al-Khelaifi, Agriculture Guidance and Services head Ahmed Salem al-Yafei, Central Municipal Council member Mubarak Feraish Mubarak al-Salem, LuLu Hypermarket Qatar regional director Shaijan M O, regional manager Shanavas P M, and representatives from the participating companies and farms, including Al-Rayyan Agricultural and Qatarat Agricultural Development Company.

Al- Khelaifi stressed that organising this festival in cooperation with LuLu comes as part of the MME's keenness to co-operate with commercial outlets to market different local products including dates. A total of 11 local farms are displaying their date products until Friday at all the 14 branches of LuLu across the country. It would also participate in supporting local productive farms and help them enhance their production.

The official pointed out that the locally produced dates accounts for 86% of the domestic requirement. He added that the MME has launched some plans, which are under study, in co-operation with the private sector that would eventually participate towards effective self-sufficiency of local production. This is part of the MME plans to achieve self-sufficiency in fruits and vegetables by 2023.

Meanwhile, Omar Tadmuri, public relations officer at LuLu Hypermarkets, thanked the MME for its excellent sponsorship of the local dates week 2021 as part of the joint initiative to support Qatari products.

A LuLu statement said popular local date varieties including Khalash, Shishi, Burhi, Khenizee and Gurh are available at highly subsidised rates.