ACCORDING to Minister of Social Affairs Dr. Amthal Al-Huwailah, supporting national products is important for achieving food security and enhancing local production. In this regard, we say, “Better late than never.”
It seems the esteemed minister has overlooked previous plans and the numerous demands made over the past half-century regarding the urgent need to pursue national food security and reduce dependency on external sources, which is vital for social and economic stability. Regrettably, authorities have ignored this ongoing discussion and continued to overlook this critical issue. In this context, if the country is truly committed to promoting food security and supporting national products, it is imperative to identify who controls the “vegetable market.” Is it not the mafia that dominates the import of goods, undermines Kuwaiti farmers, and influences various state institutions and ministries? This mafia fights against anyone who challenges it. It strives to protect its privileges and makes life difficult for those working in this sector.
Moreover, officials in relevant agencies have adopted irrational practices that impede agricultural growth and development, and the achievement of the bare minimum of stability with regard to food industries. This includes difficulties in securing fodder for livestock, which is essential for the local food system. In Kuwait, there are vast areas that remain unexploited. Every day, decisions are issued that further complicate the lives of farmers and institutions in this sector.
Even access to water is fraught with obstacles, even though this issue has been theoretically resolved for a long time. There are no financial barriers to building desalination plants.
Also, a new purification system, which is aquaculture, has been successfully implemented by neighboring countries, while we face continuous opposition from those who impede progress and impose successive fees on farmers. Farmers are also prohibited from building labor accommodations on their farms, which increases costs. Furthermore, a flood of imported products continues to saturate the market. This situation has gone unaddressed for far too long due to a lack of vision to protect all national industries, not just those in food production. In this context, we should look to neighboring countries for inspiration. The UAE recently declared all its emirates as agricultural areas, having started to diversify crops about 45 years ago.
They even hosted a conference in the 1980s on agriculture in saline water and, at one point, were distributing surplus produce to poorer countries. Saudi Arabia has become a food exporter, as has the Sultanate of Oman. Meanwhile, Qatar has purchased land in other countries to ensure the stability of its food security. These plans are not new; these nations have worked diligently to implement them. In contrast, Kuwait has failed to fully exploit its available resources
Officials often give excuses that hinder the development of this important sector, which is vital to the economy after oil. This has been draining a lot of financial resources and repeatedly placing us in crises, which we experienced during the COVID-19 pandemic. Unfortunately, it seems we have not learned from that lesson. We sincerely hope that Minister Al- Huwailah’s statements reflect a genuine commitment to implementation and a willingness to rescue us from this chronic crisis. We also urge the Council of Ministers to prioritize this issue, as food security is essential for the stability of the country.
