Key agricultural issues spotlighted

Manama, March 16 (BNA): Her Royal Highness Princess Sabeeka bint Ibrahim Al Khalifa, Wife of His Majesty the King and President of the Consultative Council of the National Initiative for Agricultural Development (NIAD), stressed the importance to go ahead with NIAD development programmes to expand green zones. Speaking at the second meeting of NIAD Consultative Council which convened under her presidency today, she lauded the royal directives to the council to study the agricultural situation in Bahrain and coordinate with the relevant authorities to work out solutions to increase the agricultural sector's contribution to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP). HRH Princess Sabeeka underlined the need for concerted efforts to raise the number of projects supporting NIAD. She lauded the positive response to King Hamad Agricultural Development Award and the growing number of participants and visitors to Bahrain International Gardens Show (BIGS) and the Farmers Market. She urged more efforts to be exerted to solve problems facing Bahraini farmers, including speeding up the setting up of a permanent market for farmers in Hawrat A'ali. She also discussed with the officials key issues pertaining to the agricultural sector, pointing out the importance of public parks in residential areas as a recreational place for many Bahraini families.