Being one of the main components of economic development in the country, the agricultural sector in the State of Qatar is getting a lot of attention from the government, who has been working hard to remove natural obstacles that impede horizontal extension of agriculture by supporting farmers and encouraging national investments in the agricultural sector.
The agricultural activity in Qatar focuses on developing modern irrigation systems, categorizing farms, improving the quality of agricultural production, introducing modern scientific and technological techniques such as protected and intensive farming in production operations, diversifying farming production patterns and enhancing guidance, organizational and monitoring mechanisms.
A lot have been achieved recently in the agricultural sector including: implementing the agricultural census project, designing and establishment an irrigation network in Al Khor Park, developing subterranean water monitoring well network, developing the first phase of Roudat Al Faras Farm project, supporting plant nurseries, producing various saplings , supplying the municipalities and government departments with saplings, spreading, implementing and maintaining modern irrigation networks and continuing various greenery and afforestation works.
The Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Agriculture encourages the national investments and workforce to engage the agricultural sector and establish agricultural projects that contribute to providing food products in the consumer market.
One of the practical steps taken in this direction was the arrangement made with the University of Qatar to introduce a program in the Faculty of Science to instruct national cadres in agricultural sciences.
Up to the year 2005, there were 987 farms in Qatar, occupying a total area of 68812 hectares against 650000 hectares of uncultivated arable lands.
The Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Agriculture supervises the agricultural sector; and is composed of the following departments:

Agricultural Development Department
This department is responsible for drawing up agricultural and livestock development plans and programs, establishing experimental and model farms, marketing the products of these farms, providing farming services for farmers, issuing agricultural licenses and applying agricultural and veterinary quarantine procedures.

Agricultural and Water Researches Department
This department is responsible for carrying out field experiments and studies on horticulture, crops, forage, enhanced utilization of irrigation water, water conservation and the most advanced scientific and technological means of agricultural and water development.
It incorporates laboratories for water, agricultural and soil researches; and sections for economy, agricultural statistics, agricultural guidance and plant fibers.
It also supervises farm survey functions and farm registration, and provides technical advice for Water Wells and Farms Affairs Committee.

Fish Resources
The Department of Fish Resources is responsible for protecting, developing, manufacturing and optimizing the utilization of the resources of marine life and supervising the implementation of this policy; managing fishing affairs, modernizing fishing techniques and equipment, securing the requirements of the fishing profession and licensing fishing professionals and fishing boats in accordance with the law.
Fishermen and farmers are offered loans to enable them increase their productivity. Some deterring actions were taken to prevent net and Hazra fishing in protected areas; and fishing by means of dredging was conclusively prohibited in order to conserve aquatic life and fish resources. Studies were conducted in the field of developing fish resources in collaboration with the GCC countries; and training was provided in field of fish resources for the Qatari human resources.

Government Experimental Farms
These farms work in the field of agricultural experimentation, with the aim to produce locally suited breeds of agricultural products. The most important of these farms are Rawdat Harma, Rawdat Al-Faras and others spreading across the country.
Qatar is considered a pioneer in the field of protected farming in the Gulf region. It has carried out five experiments at Al Utooriyya Experimental Station on peppers, cucumber, flowers and various plants. Several agricultural experiments have also been carried out on horticulture in controlled environment as part of the researches to produce better and new varieties. Varieties of tomatoes were also farmed in a green house under a special drainage system with the use of sand and organic fertilizers.
Three of the Agricultural and water forecast stations in addition to 25 rainfall measurement and registration stations distributed in the north, center and south of the country were monitored and commissioned.

The Arab-Qatari Vegetable Company
This QR47 million company was established as a joint stock company shared equally by the Government of Qatar and the Arab Authority for Investment and Development.
Among the most important products of the Company's protected green houses are cucumbers, tomatoes, peppers, beans, sweet melon, strawberry, and flowers. Products from the open fields include onions, potatoes, sweet corn, courgette, carrot, clover and various other vegetables.

National Agricultural Marketing Company
Established in 1991, this company collects and packages local agricultural products, market them locally and export the surplus.

The Arab-Qatari Company for Poultry Production
This QR200 million company is a joint venture between the government of Qatar (40%) and the Arab Livestock Development Company (60%). It produces 7 million chickens annually.

Fresh Milk Production Project
This project is a joint venture shared by the State, the private sector and the Arab Livestock Development Company. It incorporates a unit for milk-producing animals, a unit for milk pasteurization and a unit for domesticated animals. The daily output capacity of the project exceeds 5 tons of raw milk, which is sold locally.

Abu Samra Sheep Farm
The farm produces quality ewes that it distributes among raisers with the aim to upgrade sheep breeds and develop livestock.

The Qatari Committee for Farm Owners
This committee is a specialized body with legal entity. It has especial productivity, industrial and commercial interests in the field of agriculture, livestock, land reclamation, bee rearing and aquatic life; and it is managed by an elected panel of members in accordance with the principles of its basic statute, internal regulations and the common law.