Decrease import of foodstuff through farming

Bahrain needs to contribute to the farming to ensure that substantial percentage of the import of foodstuff is decreased, said Shaikha Maram Bint Isa Al Khalifa, the Secretary-General of National Initiative for Agricultural Development (NIAD). 

She said that Bahrain relied on the import of more than 80 per cent of the foodstuff. “It’s a necessity for Bahrain to contribute to farming and production to ensure that percentage of import is decreased,” Shaikha Maram commented.

Speaking in a press conference at the Exhibition Centre yesterday, she said that HRH Princess Sabeeka bint Ibrahim Al Khalifa, Wife of HM the King, President of the Supreme Council for Women and Chairperson of the NIAD will inaugurate the Bahrain International Gardens Show (BIGS 2016) on February 24. 

According to her, the show had helped to create awareness and provide support to the farmers to become more productive. “Unlike before, big official farms like Peninsula Farms and the Hanging Gardens are producing and supplying agricultural products to the hotels, markets and supermarkets. It will help in the diversification of economy, but more importantly to contribute to at least to the relative security of the country,” Shaikha Maram opined. 

She said that there was no recording system for the contributions of the farmers as all along they had been farming in the traditional way without keeping record about their production and business. 

“Gardens Show was created as a platform for the advancement of agriculture and businesses working in the field of agriculture and also for the special and private sector organizations,” she informed.