Doha: The State of Qatar has achieved significant milestones in self-sufficiency concerning various animal products. The animal resources sector is experiencing substantial progress in infrastructure and veterinary services, contributing to national food security, according to Director of the Animal Resources Department at the Ministry of Municipality, Eng. Abdulaziz Al Zeyara.
According to Qatar News Agency, Eng. Al Zeyara stated that annual domestic production has reached approximately 202,000 tons of dairy, 25,000 tons of fresh poultry meat, 16,000 tons of table eggs, and 9,000 tons of red meat. He noted that self-sufficiency levels have reached 100 percent in dairy and fresh poultry meat, 34 percent in table eggs, and nearly 15 percent in red meat.
He further reported that the total number of economically significant livestock in the country was approximately 1.1 million heads by December 2024, comprising 60 percent sheep, 29 percent goats, 3 percent cattle, and 8 percent camels. Eng. Al Zeyara highlighted the high cost of production inputs as a primary challenge for livestock producers. The ministry, through a strategic framework, aims to regulate government subsidies, which currently cover up to 70 percent of feed components, and continues to offer free vaccination campaigns against transboundary animal diseases.
Eng. Al Zeyara described several initiatives to support livestock breeders and investors, including developing infrastructure at Izab complexes, upgrading the Animal Disease Tracking and Surveillance Program, establishing new veterinary centers in Al Wakrah and Al Karaana, and digitizing departmental services. The ministry is also enhancing veterinary laboratories and quarantine facilities to international standards.
The ministry is expanding veterinary infrastructure to cover major livestock clusters comprehensively, with new centers operational in Al Shamal and Abu Nakhla and additional centers under construction in Al Wakrah and Al Karaana. Ongoing epidemiological surveillance is conducted in coordination with the Ministry of Public Health, with strict inspection protocols at all entry points.
The support provided by the ministry includes free veterinary treatment, potable water assistance, partial feed subsidy, and in-kind provision of concentrated feed. Eng. Al Zeyara emphasized the reduced dependency on imports for dairy and fresh poultry meat products, while efforts continue to decrease reliance on imports for table eggs and red meat.
Currently, there are 48 licensed animal production projects nationwide, with 32 operational and 16 under development. These include poultry farms for table egg production, egg collection projects, and livestock projects for red meat production.
The ministry is working to accredit veterinary laboratories for ISO certification and is upgrading quarantine facilities, including a specialized equine quarantine station. Advanced technologies such as AI and electronic tracking are being integrated into livestock management under the TASMU Smart Qatar Program.
The ministry encourages private sector involvement in food security projects, allocating land for sheep breeding and fattening ventures, manufacturing concentrated feed, and recycling livestock waste into organic fertilizer. The ministry is conducting strategic projects to elevate the livestock sector as a core pillar in achieving food security.
Eng. Al Zeyara urged breeders and investors to utilize available resources and adopt best husbandry practices, including optimal land use, high-yield genetic selection, market access enhancement, adherence to health protocols, and data-driven herd management tools to improve productivity.