Carrefour Inks MoU with society to support farming sector

TDT | Manama

Carrefour, operated in the Kingdom of Bahrain by Majid Al Futtaim, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Bahrain Agricultural Co-operative Society to enhance the diversity and sustainability of Bahrain’s agricultural sector. Through the agreement, Carrefour aims to use its network of stores and industry know-how to increase support for local farmers and help them develop and promote their products across the country and abroad, ultimately maximising the reach of the Bahrain’s farmed products. This initiative further demonstrates Carrefour’s commitment to creating an improved sales and marketing platform for Bahraini agricultural products which include vegetables, fruits, herbs, and plants, among others.

Carrefour is also using its cooperation with Bahraini farmers and its partnership with the National Initiative for Agricultural Development to spread awareness about food security with all members of society, while actively promoting sustainability and environmental preservation. In a statement, Shaikha Maram bint Isa Al Khalifa, the Secretary General of the National Initiative for Agricultural Development said: “The demand for local production has recently increased and consumers have begun to distinguish between the quality of local produce and other imported products. “The National Initiative for Agricultural Development seeks to support Bahrain’s diverse agricultural production and its local farmers by opening new outlets, and sales and marketing channels to meet the current demand of locally produced vegetables and fruits.” She continued: “The agricultural sector is one of the most important sectors; it contributes to achieving food security, while the agricultural sales and marketing processes are integral when it comes to production development and ensuring consumers have access to agricultural goods.

We are proud to partner with one of largest retail giants in the region, Carrefour, alongside the Bahrain Agricultural Cooperative Society. We hope that this cooperation will encourage farmers to keep improving and developing their products while ensuring farms continue to work towards sustainable agricultural production in the Kingdom of Bahrain.” Jerome Akel, Country Manager of Carrefour in Bahrain at Majid Al Futtaim Retail said: “This initiative embodies one of our long-term strategic goals here at Majid Al Futtaim retail, which is to work hand in hand with the communities that we operate in and to take agricultural sectors to new heights. “Our partnerships with the Bahrain Agricultural Co-operative Society and National Initiative for Agricultural Development showcase our dedication to developing and implementing a result-driven project for national food production in line with the vision of the Kingdom.

“This includes allocating sites for plant production, raising the proportion of local output, and developing national capabilities in the food sector.” Akel added: “We are delighted that this collaboration gives us the opportunity to promote and market Bahraini produce at our stores while giving our customers the opportunity to enjoy local foods during their shopping experience.’’ After signing the agreement, Shaikha Maram and the Bahraini farmers were accompanied on a tour of Carrefour Hypermarket, where they visited several departments inside the store and the areas displaying fresh Bahraini agricultural products from local farmers. She praised Carrefour’s efforts in enabling the national agricultural sector, supporting local production, and promoting and marketing local Bahraini products.