FORTY stalls in the Manama Central Market were yesterday allocated for Bahraini farmers after they voiced their concerns about being unable to sell their produce.
The move came as part of efforts to support the local farming sector and achieve food security in Bahrain.
The measure was spearheaded by the Works, Municipalities Affairs and Urban Planning Ministry in collaboration with the Capital Trustees Authority.
“The agricultural sector is receiving considerable attention thanks to the efforts of Minister Essam Khalaf,” said Agriculture and Marine Resources Under-Secretary Dr Nabeel Abu Al Fateh in a statement.
“Following demands by some Bahraini farmers for help in marketing their produce we have allocated 40 stalls in the Manama Central Market for them.”
He pointed out that the spaces will be distributed among farmers registered with the Agriculture and Marine Resources.
He also highlighted that the importance given to local produce can be witnessed through the Budaiya Farmer’s Market every Saturday and the permanent Farmer’s Market in Hoorat A’ali.
According to Bahrain Agriculture Co-operative Society chairman Mohammed Muhsin, who has been farming for more than 35 years, Bahraini farmers have struggled to sell their products due to a lack of allocated spaces available at the Central Market.
“The stalls are mostly occupied by expatriates, though there are a few Bahrainis,” he said.
Meanwhile, a video circulating on social media yesterday showed a farmer walking through his farm of thousands of unpicked ripe cherry tomatoes, while another Bahraini farmer is shown sitting behind a mountain of ripe tomatoes appealing for a solution.
“I’m being tortured with this situation because I have such an abundance of high quality produce such as tomatoes, bell peppers, zucchini and cucumber and I have no place to market them,” appealed one of the farmers.
“We are burdened by expenses and unable to make ends meet, so we need a solution.”
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