Qatar will grow 50 to 70 percent of its own vegetables by 2023

Residents of Qatar will start seeing a large increase in locally grown produce in the coming years.

Qatar plans to fully launch a new farming system that does not require soil and could grow 50 to 70 percent of the country's vegetables by 2023. Hassad Food, Qatar's food and livestock investor, has been testing the hydroponics project to determine its viability.

Zulal Oasis was set up on a farm in Al Shahaniyah in partnership with Oasis Agrotechnology. The project grows tomatoes in greenhouses specially adapted to the local dry and hot weather conditions.

The technology does not require any soil or substrate materials. It also features a dry air cooling system that does not give off moisture or use water. Even in the hottest of summers, the technology can help Qatar grow high-grade crops.

Speaking about the success of the testing, Hassad Food’s Chairman and Managing Director Nasser Mohamed Al Hajri said, "It also exceeded expectations regarding the yield and quality, producing more than 37 kilograms per sqm of highest quality European Standard," according to Doha News.

Qatar currently imports the majority of its vegetables. The desert nation's environment is inhospitable to agriculture, leaving the country subject to fluctuating global prices for produce. Promoting the new farming system will allow Qatar to be more self-sufficient.

Learn more about this project in the video below: