Private sector ‘has key role to play in achieving food self-sufficiency’: Bahrain

Private sector ‘has key role to play in achieving food self-sufficiency’: Bahrain

THE private sector has a key role to play as Bahrain seeks to achieve self-sufficiency in 10 key food commodities, including wheat, rice, poultry, eggs, and dairy products, a top trader has said.According to Bahrain Chamber food wealth committee chairman Khalid Al Amin, by investing in agricultural production and developing food processing and packaging industries, businesses can partner with the government in national food security efforts.

Besides targeting self-sufficiency in 10 key food commodities, the Bahrain National Food Security Strategy 2020-2030 also includes measures to improve the efficiency of food production, diversify food imports, and build strategic food reserves, he added.Highlighting the work of the committee in promoting local food production and improving the efficiency of the food supply chain, Mr Al Amin listed lentils processor Bahrain Agriculture Foods (Bafco), localised coffee capsule specialist Dallaspresso, newly-launched shrimp breeder Gulf Farming Company and the upcoming Bahrain Sugar Refinery as major success stories.“Bafco exported 4,000 tonnes of lentils in less than a year to markets like Saudi Arabia, Djibouti, Sudan, Germany, Dubai, Kuwait, Qatar, South Africa, Oman and Rwanda, and is looking forward to other markets soon, while Dallaspresso has started exporting coffee capsules to Saudi Arabia, Oman and Kuwait,” he told a