Food security vision

His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa received, at Al Safriya Palace yesterday, the Minister of Works, Municipalities Affairs and Urban Planning, Essam Khalaf.

The minister highlighted parts of the “strategic project for national food production” initiative announced by HM King Hamad while opening the second session of the fifth Legislative Term of the Shura and Representatives councils.

Aiming to adopt appropriate solutions to develop self-sufficiency in the Kingdom, the “strategic project for national food production” includes the allocation of multiple sites for aquaculture and plant production. The project aims primarily to develop the capacity of national food industries, increase the proportion of local production, and preserve the expertise of the professionals who play such an important part in the success of these projects.

HM King Hamad gave directives to adopt the projects submitted by the Works Ministry, allocate the required lands and set up government companies for agricultural and fisheries projects. HM the King also gave instructions to allocate part of Ras Haiyan area for aquaculture investments. HM King Hamad thanked the minister and all the staff of the Works, Municipalities Affairs and Urban Planning Ministry for the valuable efforts they are exerting to serve the citizens, stressing the importance of making sure that farmers benefit from the projects that will be launched.

HM the King expressed appreciation for agriculture and fish production workers, who have been attached to HM and the Kingdom, affirming keenness to communicate with all of them personally, and valuing highly the dedication of their predecessors for their devotion in serving the homeland in this field. HM King Hamad expressed confidence that the officials who have been entrusted with implementing the initiative will achieve its goals for the best interests of the citizens and low-income ones.

The minister said that the Works Ministry had briefed HM the King about its plans to adopt new and advanced farming methods, namely the soilless culture and fish farming, noting that the project aims to encourage Bahraini youth to join the agricultural and fish production fields, and to adopt innovative technologies for sustainable production, with the ultimate goal of building a promising generation whose members are trained on modern methods in agricultural and fish production, as well as deepening the patriotic sense for providing food security.

Mr Khalaf indicated that HM the King had given directives to ensure that low-income citizens from agricultural and fishing professions should contribute to supervising the projects to be implemented. The project consists of six sites for agricultural production spread over the four governorates, and three land and sea sites for aquaculture, the minister said. The minister also pointed out that the soilless culture project will contribute to increasing local production of vegetables by 20 per cent, while the fish farming projects will contribute to achieving self-sufficiency in fisheries by 62 per cent.