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FARMS

SAIC Farm was established in 1990. It has become one of the largest agricultural commercial projects in Qatar. It was designed in a modern and sophisticated scientific method that includes all agricultural activities and irrigation systems which are used to rationalize the optimum exploitation of water and using modern techniques of production of vegetables, flowers, and animal husbandry, which fit the Gulf region. The project is unique in Qatar and is in Umm Salal Ali on the farm registered under (301) in the name of Mr.Abdullah Salem Al Sulaiteen.

With the development of the farm, it has become a center for cooperation and scientific research with various national scientific bodies such as Qatar University, Qatar Science and Technology Park and other international and Arab research centers such as ICARDA and the Arab Center for the Studies of Arid Dryland (ACSAD), the Agricultural Research Center of the Arab Republic of Egypt, the International Center for the Development of Vegetables, and other international bodies and research in this field.

The area of the farm is about 40 ha. The land is organized and divided into several plots suitable for various agricultural activities, which are interconnected by means of internal road networks. Good irrigation water is provided through a desalination plant with a production capacity of 1,000 cubic meters per day, which can be increased with the development and increase of the agricultural area within the farm.

The main activities of the complex are divided into the following sections:

  • Production of vegetables in green houses, and open fields
  • Production of seasonal flowers and bedding plants.
  • Production of various outdoor Ornamental plants, trees, and shrubs.
  • Animal production activities (poultry, sheep, and goats).
  • Supply of production inputs.
  • Importing and supply of flowering pot plants, indoor plants.

MODERNIZATION AND INNOVATION IN SAIC FARM:

The modernization and innovation in the complex included two main points that played a major role in the qualitative shift in the agricultural production process in the complex under the prevailing climatic conditions, which constitute a major obstacle in the agricultural production in the country, and the modernization and innovation process:

The Growing Room

The growing room is equipped to control the environment of temperature, humidity, and lighting to obtain seed germination and achieve the final goal of healthy and disease-free young seedlings. It is also equipped with control systems for fertilization, irrigation, and recycling of irrigation water, which enables us to plant different types of vegetable and flower seedlings regardless of the external climate. High-quality seeds and special types of growth environments are used to produce unique vegetable seedlings or flowers.

Growing without soil (hydroponics).

Agricultural production systems in the complex have evolved from reliance on open farming to hydroponics. Hydroponics is a modern cultivation method in the region, where plants grow in channels using a water solution with all the nutrients and elements needed by the plant without requiring any kind of soil at all, where plants can grow roots in a nutritious solution or in any suitable industrial medium.
This newly introduced agricultural technology has greatly contributed to the development of agricultural production in the complex, which has influenced the spread of the idea in the country and thus contribute to the increase in agricultural production of vegetables in non-seasons in the climatic conditions unfavorable for cultivation.

SAIC FARM SECTIONS:

SAIC farm includes the following production units that work in harmony and homogeneous in order to achieve the main objectives of the complex, and the production units are:

  • NURSERY PLANT PRODUCTION
  • VEGETABLE PRODUCTION
  • FLOWER PRODUCTION
  • ANIMAL HUSBANDARY & POULTRY FARM.

Nursery & Ornamental Plants Section

Nursery in the farm produces seedlings of trees and shrubs and ground cover which are suitable for Qatar climatic conditions in a total area of 20,000-meter square.

Section main activities:

The main activities of the Ornamental plants Nursery are production of trees, shrubs, ornamental plants for outdoor. Through a nursery equipped with all means and tools, and with a specialized technical staff with expertise and expertise in this field. In addition to outdoor plants, we are producing indoor plants starting from last year.

Vegetable Production

The complex started producing vegetables in protected houses at the beginning of 2001. Since then, the complex has been making great efforts to modernize the agricultural process by adopting the latest technologies in order to provide water, reduce the use of pesticides, increase the efficiency of the agricultural process and increase the level of production, between green houses, hydroponics systems and open field agriculture.

SAIC farm was able to produce up to 30 varieties of vegetables throughout the year such as cucumbers, tomatoes, peppers, basins, beans, strawberries, cauliflower, squash, beetroot, melon, lettuce, sweet corn, and herbs such as mint, parsley, watercress, coriander, dill, thyme and others. The total production is around 700 tons per year achieved from total vegetable production area of 7 ha. with an area of about (10) ha annually, which is distributed between the use of cold green houses with an area of (45,000) square meters, and the net houses with an area of (8,000), and open field with an area of (47,000) square meters.

Quality Control

In continuation of the efforts of Al-Sulaiteen Agricultural and Industrial Complex (SAIC) to use advanced agricultural technology and apply the highest modern international quality standards in the agricultural field, with the aim of effectively contributing to providing food security & food safety to our beloved Qatar by increasing production and providing high quality agricultural products to the people of Qatar and its residents.

And in the commitment of the complex to provide the highest international standards for agricultural systems and the quality and safety of production, Al-Sulaiteen Complex obtained from the International Organization for Standardization 4 ISO certificates, which are the highest standard in the world for safety management systems, food quality and occupational health and safety, environmental practices namely: Quality Management System Certificate (ISO 9001) – The Environmental Management System Certificate (ISO 14001) – The Food Safety Management System Certificate (ISO 22000) – and the Occupational Health and Safety Management System Certificate (ISO 45001), which gives more value and confidence in the brand of Al Sulaiteen Complex products.

Al-Sulaiteen Complex has also been the first Qatari farm to obtain the Good Agricultural Practices Certificate (GLOBAL GAP) since 2015, to provide the local market with fresh, high-quality and safe products throughout the year, certified by GLOBALG.A.P International, despite the numerous requirements and strong commitment to implementing Requirements for these certificates to produce high-quality vegetables and according to international standards as well as local agricultural ministry guidance.

Flower Production Section

Since 2002, SIAC has been concentrating on seasonal flower plants production in Modern Greenhouses and Shade net houses with total area of 2.5 ha. From the beginning of our production, we have increased the production year by year and reached more than 7 million plants per year now. We are producing summer and winter seasonal flowers with total varieties of more than 55 different types. In addition to seasonal flowers, we are producing flowering pot plants, Pot vegetables, Herbal plants, Hanging baskets, Garden cubes, flower towers. With our experience and exposure, we have introduced new kinds of flowers to Qatar landscape and some of the flowers are totally new and first time in the region when it was introduced. In last few years we are producing during winter months.

Department of Animal Production

It was established in 1995, Awassi sheep constitute the main herd among other species was added from the Syria in 1997. It also includes other herds added to form the current available stock.

  • Sheep Production Unit: Awassi sheep known as dual-purpose breed with its tender meat and delicious milk used for making cheese and ghee. It is also known with high adaption to the local environment and tolerance to disease.
  • Poultry production unit: It is specialized in producing local chicken types for suppling other farms in addition to fertile and table eggs. It is supported by hatcheries for production of layer chicks, turkey and other birds. There are ongoing efforts for improving size and quantities of eggs produced from local chicken. New extension will be completed soon to produce table eggs from commercial layer breeds.
  • Camel production unit: It includes number of camels that descend from the excellent Arabian breeds, which represent an ancient heritage of the Qatari community.
  • Wild-life Unit: Spotted Deer, Arabian Ream, wild sheep, African and Australian ostrich types all available in this unit. These types were fully adapted and maintained living in harmony in protected wide-open area.
  • Manufacturing of animal Feeds & Agricultural by products: All farm herds supported by feed mixing & processing unit which mainly help crushing of date palm leaves, grinding of seeds, mixing rations, chopping and making molasses feed blocks. It utilizes agricultural by products mixing with animal feeds and for making Silage.