Qatar Tops the "Access to Food” List in The Arab World

The self-sufficiency of Qatar had been increasing in recent years, particularly after the 2017 GCC crisis.

The Global Food Security report, released on Wednesday, ranks Qatar as the second-most food secure nation in the region and first among Arab nations in terms of the availability of food.

According to a survey from Deep Knowledge Analytics, Qatar is the top Arab nation, followed by Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Kuwait, Bahrain, Oman, and Jordan.

By 2027, Qatar's greenhouse market will increase to $309 million.

In terms of overall food security, the UAE came out on top, followed by states within the area like Qatar, Bahrain, and Oman. Qatar ranked fifth among Arab nations in terms of the resilience of their food systems and economies, with the UAE holding the top spot.

The US ranked first on the Food Security Index, whereas Sub-Saharan Africa, as well as several other Middle Eastern and North African nations, were in the lowest quartile.

As a result of the disruption of international shipments of grain and fertilizer, food prices have skyrocketed, underscoring the negative effects of the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine on global food security.

According to the paper, "high costs coupled with shortages owing to disruptions in exports from the region are likely to restrict fertilizer consumption in many nations, which will impair harvest yields in the future and agricultural commodities' availability on global markets."

As part of a strategic action plan to prevent any shortages in the global supply chain, Qatar's Hassad Food announced plans in March to meet local market demands for grains, oilseeds, and wheat.

Given that both nations export a third of the world's wheat and barley, this occurred as the protracted conflict between Russia and Ukraine threatened wheat production around the world.

The actual Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of Qatar is anticipated to expand at a rate of 3.9 percent, according to information from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in April.

In recent years, Qatar has made significant attempts to achieve self-sufficiency, particularly in the wake of the 2017 GCC crisis. At the time, Qatar was subjected to an illegitimate air, land, and maritime blockade by Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, the UAE, and Egypt.

Before the crisis, more than 80% of Qatar's food supply came from imports. The conflict and ensuing blockade forced Doha's government to provide its people with substitute goods.

Youssef Al-Khulaifi, director of the Ministry of Municipality's Agricultural Affairs Department, stated in April that Qatari farms are anticipated to improve vegetable production by 2-3 percent.

The official from Qatar claimed that the rise is the result of the increasing demand for products made in-country. The total amount of vegetables produced in Qatar in 2021 was 102,000 tonnes.

Through the introduction of agricultural programs and the provision of services and support across various local farms, the Qatari government has been stepping up its support for its farmers.

The Qatari ministry has given 5,777 greenhouses to farm owners over the past five years to increase output.