KUWAIT CITY, Dec 8: Minister of Social Affairs, Family and Childhood Affairs, Dr. Amthal Al-Huwailah, announced plans to open a new sales outlet for national products to benefit farmers. She emphasized the unwavering support of political leadership and government agencies for local agricultural initiatives.

Speaking during the opening of the third edition of the Al-Nuwair Festival in Abdullah Al-Salem suburb, organized by Abdullah Al-Salem and Al-Mansouriya Cooperative Societies with support from the Union of Cooperative Societies, Dr. Al-Huwailah highlighted the festival’s role as a direct sales platform connecting producers, farmers, and consumers without intermediaries. She stressed that this initiative underscores national support for local agriculture, helping farmers and boosting the national product.

Addressing farmers’ requests for direct access to cooperative markets, she said, “We are working to ensure that all local products reach consumers without intermediaries. This will help regulate prices and make products more accessible.”

Dr. Al-Huwailah described the festival as a cultural, social, and entertaining event that underscores the importance of a strong and sustainable food economy. She reaffirmed the government's commitment to supporting the national product, with an ultimate goal of exporting it. She also announced plans to open a new sales outlet next week for farmers, complementing existing outlets across Kuwait.

The Chairman of the Union of Consumer Cooperative Societies, Musab Al-Mulla, expressed pride in the festival’s success, noting the consistent display of national products at affordable prices. He highlighted efforts to launch a third sales outlet, enabling direct purchases from farmers, despite current regulations requiring cooperatives to buy through authorized sources like the Farmers Union in Al-Ardiya or the Wafir Company.

Al-Mulla explained, “Though we cannot currently buy directly from farms due to ministry regulations, there is a plan in place to organize and support direct purchases from farms. This festival will continue weekly in various regions across the country.”

Ahmed Khaled Al-Rashid, Chairman of Abdullah Al-Salem and Al-Mansouriya Cooperative Society, said the festival’s primary goal is to support Kuwaiti farmers and national products. He expressed gratitude to Dr. Al-Huwailah for her patronage and support of the local product.

Al-Rashid noted the competitive pricing among farmers at the festival and consumer satisfaction with local goods. He added that the cooperative society directly procures products from Wafir Company and exceeds the ministry’s prescribed quotas for supporting local products.