From bees to a woman-led business: These are some of the best Qatar 365 stories of 2022

As 2022 comes to an end, we would like to bring you some of our favourite Qatar 365 stories of the year.

Qatar has ambitious food self-sufficiency targets for 2023, keeping in line with its 2030 national vision. Over the past 12 months, we found some farms helping the country reach its goal.

‘One of the first people to produce pollen in Qatar’

Umm Qarn farm has thousands of bees. Its beekeeper, Arafat Hussain, has been working with honey bees since he was a boy.

“I may be one of the first people to produce pollen in Qatar, royal jelly, propolis, and propolis products,” Hussain said.

“Bees teach you how to work, they teach you sacrifice and they teach you sincerity in work. Bees are beautiful insects, and my love for bees is great.”

Many farms in Qatar have recently ramped up their production of honey.

But with no real winter, eight months of summer and only four months of spring, Qatar has a relatively difficult climate for growing crops.

That is why some farms are using more unique methods to create a sustainable growing environment.

For example, a farm in Doha City Centre mall has implemented vertical farming with LED lighting. The technology is capable of growing herbs and fruits like melons and tomatoes.

Heenat Salma in the north-west of Doha is also trying to promote permaculture, growing self-sufficiently and sustainably.

“People harvest their own food. So, we are bringing more consciousness to our food growth. We connect with the elements and the beauty,” said Soumia Masmoudi, a permaculture designer. 

Qatari women at the top of their fields

Nestled in the heart of Souq Waqif, one of Qatar’s traditional markets, is a busy local eatery run by Shams Al-Qassabi, a mother of five. 

She is the first woman to run a business in the