DOHA: Six animal farm complexes across Qatar are set to get electricity connections from Qatar General Electricity and Water Corporation (Kahramaa). The Corporation said yesterday that it would start receiving applications from these farms to connect them with electricity from August 8. The new service will cover farm complexes in Al Khrairb, Al Simsimah, Al Wakrah, Al Khor, Al Sheehaniya and Abu Nakhlah.

These complexes have 5,087 blocks which house around 350,000 livestock.

“Kahramaa will begin connecting the farm complexes in accordance with the standard procedures after the completion of receiving the applications. Once the application is received, electricity connection will be provided within a period of three months,”  said Abdullah Faraj Mubarak Nasrullah  Assistant Director of Customer Services at Kahramaa addressing a press conference yesterday.

He added that the project, which will cost QR250m, will involve installation of primary and secondary stations to supply the complexes with the necessary electrical voltage.

These farms are currently using generators to generate electricity. The new connections by Kahramaa also entails huge saving for the animal farms as the new connections will be provided at much lower rate. Earlier, it was required to pay QR44,350 to get the connection but now only QR4,410 will be charged for the new connection.

Reduction in charges will be a big boost to food security in the country as it will reduce operational cost for the farms and will increase the supply of livestock in the country.  Director of Animal Wealth Department at the Ministry of Municipality and Environment, Farhoud Hadi Al Hajri, stressed that the farm complexes have become an important factor in supporting strategic stocks to promote self-sufficiency and food security of Qatar.

He pointed that the number of livestock in the country is close to 1.6 million head, while the number of economic animals in the complexes is about 350,000 head, of which sheep constitute 66 percent.

With regard to the role of the Ministry of Municipality and Environment, Farhoud Hadi Al Hajri, said that the ministry will play its monitoring role on the farms and will also urge the development of livestock.

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