Hassad helping Qatar achieve self-sufficiency in animal feed

Tribune News Network
Doha
Hassad, Qatar's premier investor in food and agribusiness sectors, has begun expanding its foreign and domestic investments to support the ongoing efforts to achieve self-sufficiency in the animal feed sector.
Hassad also announced on Monday that it has signed an agreement with the Sudanese side and will commence negotiations on the acquisition of a major share in one of the largest fodder producing projects in Sudan.
Located near the Sudanese capital Khartoum, this strategic project spans over an area of 10,000 hectares. The project is producing around 150,000 tonnes of rhodes and alfalfa animal fodder annually.
"We conducted an in-depth research on the local market needs of animal feed, and accordingly, we developed a comprehensive plan which covers both local and foreign expansion, as well as to secure external sources to be utilized by the country if needed," Hassad's Chief Executive Officer Mohamed al Sadah said.
"Hassad is fully aware and supportive of the efforts made by the private sector. We would like to emphasise that Hassad's local investments complement those efforts and not to its competition; thus, all our collective efforts are in the best interest of the local market," Sadah added.
As for Hassad's local efforts, the company announced the completion of the first phase of"alfalfa" production, on a land area of 1.5 million square metre, at Irkkiyah farm (owned by Aalaf Qatar, a subsidiary of Hassad).
Sadah said this would support the country's food security efforts.
Currently, the total cultivated area owned by Aalaf Qatar, has reached 8 million square metres, producing Alfa Alfa and Rhodes.
"We are currently developing a plan to begin the second phase of expansion within our local farms by the beginning of next year, with the aim of increasing the production and introducing new products," he added.
Aalaf Qatar, a subsidiary of Hassad, currently owns four farms producing animal feed on a total land area of around 800 hectares at Irkkiyah, Sailiyah, A 'Refaa' and Umm Salal.