Qatar is incredebly reliant on food imports. Only around 8% of the consumed food was produced in the small emirate on the persian gulf by 2014. The reasons vary, the main issue is the harsh climate. Just a small part of the country which mainly consists of deserts is suitable for agriculture and has to be irrigated. The excessive use of groundwater empties the aquifiers which can collapse and not be refilled. Another strategy is desalination, a process that uses a lot of energy to filter out salt from seawater.

In June 2017 neighbouring countries cut diplomatic and trade ties with Qatar, accusing them of supporting and financing terrorism. From that point on, Qatar focussed on producing the goods the once imported within its own borders. The focus of the growing agricultural sector is on vegetable and fruit, but also on meat and dairy product. But the growth of that sector comes at price, as it consumes huge amounts of the already very scarce water.

The road to the Saudi border. Once full of trucks it is now abandoned after the border got closed.
Construction site of Doha's first metro line, Souq Waqif station.
Parking lot in front of the Qatargas headquarters in downtown Doha, the Al Asmakh Tower in the background.
Portraits of Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani and his father Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani in a hotel in Doha.
The qatari capital Doha covered in fog.
Trucks collect water for construction purposes from a pumping station in Umm Salal north of Doha.
A construction site in Doha.
Shop owners at the central wholesale market in Doha.
Goats at the central wholesale market in Doha.
The Al Rikayya Farm in Al Rayyan. The farm produces grass used for gardens or as food for animals.
Cows on a rotary milking parlor in the vistor center of Baladna Farm in Al Khor.
A air-conditioned barn at Baladna Farm in Al Khor.
Young tomato plants in a greenhouse on a farm of SAIC in Umm Salal Ali, north of Doha
Papayas in a greenhouse of Agrico in Al Khor.
The owner of Global Farm in Umm Salal show different methods of cultivation to some friends.
Various herbs on a farm of SAIC in Umm Salal Ali, north of Doha
Shading of a greenhouse on a farm of SAIC in Umm Salal Ali, north of Doha
The desaliniation plant Ras Abu Fontas south of Doha.
Pipes of the Water Mega Reservoir Project before instalation.
The Al Rikayya Farm in Al Rayyan. The farm produces grass for use in gardens or as food for animals.
A dried out well west of the qatari capital Doha.
Botteling of drinking water at Jouf/Gulf Water Plant. Before botteling the ground water has to be desalinated.
Al-Kharsaa Farm in western Qatar.

Wasteland

Qatar is incredebly reliant on food imports. Only around 8% of the consumed food was produced in the small emirate on the persian gulf by 2014. The reasons vary, the main issue is the harsh climate. Just a small part of the country which mainly consists of deserts is suitable for agriculture and has to be irrigated. The consequences are far-reaching and visible in the whole region. The excessive use of groundwater empties the aquifiers which can collapse and not be refilled. Another strategy is desalination, a process that uses a lot of energy to filter out salt from seawater.

In June 2017 neighbouring countries cut diplomatic and trade ties with Qatar, accusing them of supporting and financing terrorism. The fact that Saudi-Arabia closed its border to Qatar is most important as it was the only land border of the country and Saudi-Arabia used to be an important trade partner for food products. From that point on, Qatar focussed on producing the goods the once imported within its own borders. The focus of the growing agricultural sector is on vegeta- ble and fruit, but also on meat and dairy product. But the growth of that sector comes at price, it consumes huge amounts of the allready very scarce water. To minimize the water consumption the start using new technologies such as greenhouses and modern irrigation systems. Against the background of the upcoming athletics and football world championships in 2019 and 2022 I had chance to get an insight on what is happening in Qatar and how they are dealing with the crisis.