Local vegetable production in Qatar is expected to reach retail markets starting in early October, with cucumbers, zucchini, hot peppers, and leafy greens among the initial crops available to consumers. Several farm owners and managers reported that the agricultural season this year was delayed by about 20 days compared to typical schedules, primarily due to intense heat and high humidity during the summer months, which affected outdoor crop growth.

Despite the delay, most farms have completed preparations for the new season, including soil conditioning, greenhouse maintenance, and seedling planting. Farmers have praised the Ministry of Municipality for its support, especially through the introduction of the “Raqmana” digital program. This system allows farmers to electronically submit agricultural plans, request services, and obtain crop and disease management advice, thereby streamlining processes and reducing administrative burdens.

Rising production costs, however, remain a significant challenge. Farmers reported notable increases in prices for fertilizers, seeds, and pesticides, which they attributed in part to higher transportation expenses and ongoing supply chain disruptions. Several farm owners expressed concern that escalating input costs could strain profitability, especially during periods when market prices drop due to abundant supply.

Nasser al-Kuwari, a farm owner with roughly 20 greenhouses, including five cooled units, said that planting has begun on a limited scale and will expand as preparations continue. His farm produces a range of vegetables such as tomatoes, eggplants, cowpeas, and cucumbers. Al-Kuwari emphasized the need to expand protected agriculture to boost local production and reduce reliance on imports, which could help stabilize the market.

Similarly, Ali al-Hanzab’s farm has completed soil and irrigation readiness and plans to start planting next week. The farm will focus on a limited selection of crops—including tomatoes, carrots, onions, eggplants, hot peppers, and zucchini—to ensure sufficient quantities for market competition. Al-Hanzab highlighted a commitment to allowing crops to grow naturally without using growth-accelerating agents to maintain product quality.

Farm manager Eng Saber al-Dahmani noted that extreme summer heat and humidity, particularly since early August, delayed planting operations significantly. Typically, eggplant planting begins in early August with market availability by the end of that month, while cucumbers usually appear by mid-September. This year, these timelines were pushed back, with planting now underway for zucchini, eggplant, melon, and cucumber as temperatures have moderated. Greenhouse planting of cucumbers, eggplants, and tomatoes is scheduled to continue through September, with crop varieties such as sweet peppers, cauliflower, broccoli, and cabbage also planned for the season.

Other farm owners reported similar preparations. Mohamed Ajlan al-Kaabi’s operation is ready to receive strawberry seedlings imported from Jordan, continuing a four-year effort to grow strawberries in climate-controlled greenhouses. Alongside strawberries, the farm will produce regular and cherry tomatoes, cucumbers, eggplants, and peppers. Seedling transfers to greenhouses are expected from late September, with strawberry harvest anticipated about 45 days later and tomatoes maturing around December.

Basel al-Yafei, another farm manager, confirmed that his farm’s seedlings are prepared for transfer from late September, with a diverse range of crops including tomatoes, eggplants, cucumbers, cabbage, broccoli, and leafy vegetables. He attributed about a two-week delay in open-field planting to the hot and humid weather.

Eng Mohamed Mousa reported that season planting officially began mid-August with outdoor crops such as melon, watermelon, and zucchini, along with cowpeas in greenhouses. His farm has already started supplying cucumbers and zucchini grown in cooled greenhouses to the central market. Mousa anticipates that local vegetable production will become more prominent in markets by mid-October, featuring early varieties of eggplant, squash, melon, and watermelon.

Overall, while the 2026 agricultural season in Qatar has faced challenges from climate conditions and increased production costs, local farms are moving forward with preparations and anticipate a gradual increase in local vegetable availability over the coming months.