Agricultural Research Department is all set to launch a plant factory; will ensure production of vegetables round the year

The Agricultural Research Department at the Ministry of Municipality is all set to launch a plant factory to ensure production of vegetables round the year as revealed by a top official. The plant factory will be utilising the most advanced techniques to enhance agricultural produce. The plant factory will ensure steady production of high-quality vegetables all year round by artificially controlling the cultivation environment (light, temperature, humidity, carbon dioxide concentration, and culture solution), allowing growers to plan production.

“The project, which will be announced officially during the next five months, will have positive impact on growing leafy vegetables, especially during summer,” said Hamad Saket Al Shammari, Director of the Agricultural Research Department, the Ministry of Municipality.

Al Shammari said to overcome the challenges of high temperature and sun in the way of growing agricultural produce, greenhouses with special features are being used for sustainable farming. 

“We, at Agricultural Research Department, have completed third season on using a customised greenhouse called ‘Sawb Al Qatari’ with height of about three metres.” He said that the greenhouse was developed with the support of international agricultural research institutions. “The idea behind setting up such types of greenhouse came during interactions with some Japanese agricultural experts. It is based on a technique of utilising air current in a way to enter the greenhouse reducing the sun to protect the plants from excessive heat.” Al Shammari said using this technique the department grew a diversified range of agricultural produce to ensure production in large quantity.