Soilless cultivation project gets green light

TDT | Manama

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com

Works Minister has announced launching agricultural projects employing modern techniques like hydroponics in Horat Aali and Al Diraz as per the directives of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa. Essam Khalaf, the Minister of Works, Municipalities Affairs and Urban Planning, said they are planning the first phase of the projects for BD3,700,000 in four hectares.

The project, the minister said, will contribute to raising the local production of vegetables and several types of agricultural products.

The project, now in its implementation stage, was awarded by the Tender board. “We are expecting to complete the project in a year, following which we will expand it to other governorates,” the minister said.

Explaining, Khalaf said the ministry had developed an integrated plan for hydroponics as per the directives of His Majesty the King. “The ministry is working to establish an infrastructure capable of achieving food security by adopting projects based on soilless farming technology,” the minister said.

The initiatives, Khalaf said, falls within the aim of supporting Bahraini youth in agricultural production and sustainable production techniques. Dr Nabil Muhammad AbulFath, the Undersecretary for Agriculture and Marine Resources at the Ministry of Works, Municipalities Affairs and Urban Planning, held a meeting with the company working on the project.

The project, Dr Fath said, is expected to produce up to 500 tonnes of vegetables annually from the two sites. “Soilless cultivation will contribute to increasing the local production of vegetables by 20%,” he said.

Looking ahead, he said there are several projects in the private sector. “In Horat Aali, 19 plots are handed over to farmers and seven to companies for raising agricultural production,” said Dr Fath. Dr Abdulaziz Muhammad Abdul Karim, the Assistant Undersecretary for Agriculture, representatives of Works Affairs, Mumtalakat and contractors were present.