Almond Festival wraps up with flourish in Kingdom

TDT | Manama 

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com

The three-day Almond Festival successfully concluded yesterday at Budaiya Botanical Garden.

The festival saw a significant turnout of citizens, residents, and visitors from GCC countries, drawn by the cultural significance of Bahraini almonds within the Arabian Gulf region.

His Excellency Dr. Khaled Ahmed Hassan, Undersecretary of Agriculture and Animal Resources Affairs at the Ministry of Municipalities Affairs and Agriculture, officially opened the event on Friday.

Dr. Hassan emphasised the festival’s role in promoting Bahraini products and supporting local farmers and food processing industries.

Expansion

Mr. Mohammed Mirza Hassan Al-Aribi, Assistant Undersecretary for Agricultural Affairs, highlighted the event’s expansion from its successful debut, featuring diverse activities catering to all age groups and attracting a robust attendance on its opening day.

He noted the festival’s impact on encouraging farmers to enhance production and introduce new almond varieties, aligning with its mission to stimulate agricultural diversity and productivity.

The Ministry, in collaboration with the National Initiative for Agricultural Sector Development and other stakeholders, remains committed to fostering local agriculture through such initiatives.

Platform

The festival serves as a platform for Bahraini farmers to showcase their products and educates visitors about almond cultivation techniques, varieties, and processing industries, underscoring the importance of agricultural preservation and sustainability.

Thirteen farmers, four productive families, and five nurseries took part in this year’s festival, featuring displays of almond seedlings, various almond fruit varieties, processing industries, and engaging children’s activities.

The Ministry plans t o plant 1,000 almond seedlings across Bahrain’s governorates to complement the festival’s educational and promotional efforts.