Farmers’ market opens

Works, Municipalities Affairs and Urban Planning Minister, Essam Khalaf, has unveiled a number of initiatives aimed at preserving the green space and developing the agricultural sector in the Kingdom, noting that the initiatives focus on supporting the agricultural community, as well as on encouraging the local farmers to be more competitive.

The minister was speaking as he officially opened the eighth edition of the Bahraini Farmers’ Market at the Budaiya Botanical Garden, in the presence of the Ministry’s Undersecretary for Agriculture and Marine Resources, Dr Nabeel Mohammed Abu Al Fateh, in addition to representatives of the National Initiative for Agricultural Development (NIAD) and the Labour Fund (Tamkeen).

Mr Khalaf said that the market is in line with the Kingdom’s plans to develop the agricultural sector, the Works Ministry, represented by the Undersecretariat of Agriculture and Marine Resources, had launched many training sessions in the fields of taking care of palm trees and the production of vegetables. T h e m i n i s t r y h a s a l s o launched many initiatives aimed at supporting Bahraini farmers and encouraging local products, citing the establishment of the Budaiya weekly Farmers’ Market, held between December and April, in addition to the permanent farmers’ market in Hoorat A’ali, thus providing a platform to market local agricultural products.

He also indicated that efforts are being made to allocate special outlets to sell Bahraini farmers’ products at central markets. He also stressed that the Bahraini Farmers’ Market at the Budaiya Botanical Garden is essential in the Works Ministry’s plans to provide platforms for Bahraini farmers to sell their products, noting that the massive turnout of the citizens and residents has encouraged the market to continue for the past years. Undersecretary Dr Nabeel Mohammed Abu Al Fateh said that Bahraini Farmers’ Market at the Budaiya Botanical Garden has become a catalyst for competition among Bahraini farmers, who are keen to display their agricultural products. He pointed out that the huge turnout and the diverse activities held on the sidelines of the market annually, have prompted farmers to take advantage of modern technology in the field of agriculture, which is consistent with the strategy of the Agricultural and Marine Resources Undersecretariat to optimise the contribution of the agricultural sector to achieving sustainable food security in the Kingdom.

NIAD Secretary- General, Shaikha Maram bint Isa Al Khalifa, said that the farmers’ market in Budaiya and has become a major national event, noting that farmers’ markets support the agricultural sector in the kingdom. She affirmed that the farmers’ market enjoys the support of NIAD, in line with the directives and aspirations of Her Royal Highness Princess Sabeeka bint Ibrahim Al Khalifa, Wife of HM the King and President of the NIAD Consultative Council, on boosting the agricultural sector to increase its contributions to the Kingdom’s GDP, as well as to provide new job opportunities for Bahraini youth. Open to visitors from 8 am to 2 pm every Saturday, the market includes local Bahraini vegetable products, in addition to restaurants and accompanying events.