The Peninsula reports that the market was set up last year by the Ministry of Environment to help Qatari farmers sell their products directly to the customers at reasonable prices, without intervention of middlemen.

The market attracted a large number of customers last year, including restaurants, groceries, supermarkets, and vegetable suppliers. More than 35,000 people visited the yard last year and about 170,000 cartons of vegetables from the local farms were sold, according to figures released by the ministry.

Inspired by the success of the experiment, the ministry has expanded the facility this year and added separate outlets for fresh fish, livestock and locally produced poultry products, Qatar News Agency reported yesterday.

The market will be open three days a week — Thursday, Friday and Saturday — from this Thursday until the end of the harvest season. Sales will take place from 7am until 5pm on all days.

There will be 32 stalls selling vegetables, with addition of ten stalls from last year.

The ministry is expecting healthy competition among farmers, which could result in low prices. It has also taken measures to ensure the quality of the products through proper display and packaging.

The ministry has conducted several workshops to educate farmers in these things.

Locally produced pure honey and cheese will be the added attractions of the market this year.

The new yard for animals and poultry will have separate sections for each. The animal yard will have 20 stalls for goat and sheep, while locally produced chicken, duck and egg will be sold in the other section, among other products.

There will be another section for fresh fish, where catch from six local fishermen will be sold.

The fish, poultry and livestock will be put under strict quality checks and monitoring, said the report.