Efforts underway to expand arable land, food production in Bahrain

TDT | Manama    

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com

The Ministry of Municipalities Affairs and Agriculture has announced intentions to expand the arable land area in Bahrain as part of its efforts to strengthen food security.

In line with this goal, the ministry has initiated several tenders inviting investors who can contribute to enhancing Bahrain’s self-sufficiency in food production.

The primary objective is to increase the proportion of locally grown crops, thereby improving the economic benefits derived from the agricultural sector and fostering the growth of national capabilities in the food industry.

The ministry has specifically identified plots of land in the Buri area, within the agriculture and marine resources sectors, for this purpose. Investors interested in these initiatives are required to use the designated plots for cultivating innovative crops while employing the latest renewable energy technologies to ensure efficient water usage.

The ministry aims to promote sustainability and explore the feasibility of cultivating high-value crops, thereby increasing self-sufficiency levels. For this purpose, three separate tenders have been unveiled, each seeking investors for plots of land in the Buri area.

Successful bidders will be awarded a 10-year contract to develop the respective plots. The identified plots have areas measuring 11,916.8 m2, 10,419.5 m2, and 7,439.8 m2.

For plot number 88000518, bidders must provide a BD2,500 bond, valid for 180 days, and submit their bids to the board before the deadline of August 16, 2023. As for plots 88000519 and 88000517, the initial bond requirement is BD4,000, also valid for 180 days. The closing date for both tenders is August 16, 2023.

Edamah offers land in Hamala

Edamah, the Bahrain Real Estate Investment Company, has also opened tenders for the development of agricultural land. One of these tenders is for the leasing of Plot No. 15, located in Hamala, for which Edamah is inviting proposals.

Interested parties are requested to submit their bids along with a BD1,000 bond, valid for 180 days, before the deadline of August 2, 2023. Furthermore, Edamah has launched three separate tenders for agricultural development on lease in Hamala.

These include Plot No. 10, requiring a BD500 bond with a closing date of August 2, 2023; Plot No. 5, requiring a BD2,500 bond with a closing date of July 12, 2023; and Plot No. 13, requiring a BD500 bond with a closing date of August 2, 2023.

The bidding process

Interested parties can access the tender documents for download through the Tender Board’s portal at https://e-tendering. tenderboard.gov.bh starting on Tuesday, June 13, 2023.

The initial bond should be provided in the form of a certified check, bank guarantee, insurance policy, or cash, as specified in the tender documents, and must remain valid for the specified duration.

10% preference

Micro, small, and medium enterprises (SMEs) are eligible for a 10% preference in the financial evaluation stage. To avail themselves of this preference, SMEs must submit their "SMEs Classification Certificate" during the bidding process for this tender.

Vendors who are not registered in the Tender Board’s e-tendering system will be required to register.