Minister of Municipalities Affairs and Agriculture Announces the Launch of the 12th Edition of the Bahraini Farmers' Market on December 7

HE Eng. Wael bin Nasser Al Mubarak, Minister of Municipalities Affairs and Agriculture, announced the launch of the 12th edition of the Bahraini Farmers' Market in partnership with the National Initiative for Agricultural Sector Development and STC Bahrain. The market will begin on Saturday, December 7, 2024, and will run until February 22, 2025, at the Budaiya Botanical Garden. The event will feature a distinguished group of Bahraini farmers, local brands, and artisans. It will also coincide with the Kingdom of Bahrain’s National Day celebrations and the anniversary of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa’s accession to the throne, along with other national occasions.

This came during the Minister’s inspection visit to the Farmers' Market at the Budaiya Botanical Garden, in the presence of the Undersecretary for Agriculture Affairs and Animal Wealth. During the visit, the Minister reviewed the preparations for the market’s opening, accompanied by several officials from the Farmers' Market organizing committee.

Al Mubarak stated that the Farmers' Market aligns with the directives of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa to enhance and invest in food security. This initiative receives continuous support from the government, led by His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, with the aim of developing the agricultural sector and encouraging private sector investment in line with the Government Plan and the National Initiative for Agricultural Sector Development.

HE also praised the ongoing partnership with the National Initiative for Agricultural Sector Development, led by Her Royal Highness Princess Sabeeka bint Ibrahim Al Khalifa, Wife of His Majesty the King and Chairperson of the Advisory Council of the Initiative, in implementing the 12th edition of the Bahraini Farmers' Market. He also commended the support provided by the private sector, particularly STC Bahrain, for its commitment to supporting the Farmers' Market.

During the inspection visit, the Minister reviewed the final preparations regarding the allocation of farmers within the market, the provision of infrastructure, and the readiness of the site to welcome both farmers and visitors. He noted that this year’s market features the participation of 33 local farmers, along with several agricultural companies, nurseries, beekeeping businesses, and accompanying activities such as handicrafts, productive families, educational and recreational activities for children, as well as restaurants and cafés within the market.

Al-Mubarak emphasized that the Farmers' Market aims to support local agricultural production by providing a marketing platform that facilitates farmers' access to thousands of visitors, including Bahrainis and residents. This serves as a motivation for many farmers to diversify their products and introduce new varieties that are in demand locally.

For his part, Engineer Khalid Al-Osaimi, CEO of STC Bahrain, affirmed that supporting the Bahraini Farmers' Market reflects the company's firm commitment to contributing to sustainable development and supporting the local community, which is in line with the Kingdom's vision for a more prosperous and sustainable future. He pointed out that this partnership with the National Initiative for Agricultural Sector Development and the Ministry of Municipalities Affairs and Agriculture provides an opportunity to support Bahraini farmers and enable them to showcase their local products on this distinguished platform. He also expressed the company’s pride in being part of this national initiative, which contributes to the growth of the agricultural sector and the strengthening of the local economy.

The Undersecretary of the Ministry for Agriculture Affairs and Animal Wealth, Engineer Asim Abdul Latif, confirmed the completion of the registration process for those wishing to participate in the 12th edition of the Farmers' Market for the 2024/2025 season. He noted that the number of participants in the market has been finalized, including 33 farmers, 4 agricultural companies, 4 nurseries, 4 beekeeping businesses, 19 cafés and restaurants, 20 retail shops, and 64 productive families, along with various other small enterprises. This reflects the market’s popularity and the confidence of the participants.

The Undersecretary added that the market’s organizing committee is fully prepared for the launch of the 12th season. Numerous programs and accompanying events have been planned for this highly anticipated annual event, which has a positive impact on encouraging farmers and providing entertainment for visitors from the Kingdom and abroad. He noted that a larger number of visitors and participants are expected this season compared to the previous year. He also highlighted that the Agriculture Affairs has been working on various improvements and developments at the Bahraini Farmers' Market site to ensure a distinguished edition of the event. What was once a local Bahraini initiative has now grown into an attraction that welcomes visitors from neighboring and friendly countries.