www.thepeninsulaqatar.com BUSINESS | 13 SPORT | 23 G20 embraces FIFA President crackdown Infantino to on tax havens visit Qatar SATURDAY 16 APRIL 2016 • 9 Rajab 1437 • Volume 21 • Number 6768 thepeninsulaqatar @peninsulaqatar @peninsula_qatar Philippine polls: OIC reiterates More than 4,000 cast vote in Qatar support for in the first week By Raynald C Rivera Palestine State The Peninsula DOHA: More than 4,000 Filipi- independent and sovereign Palestinian nos in Qatar have cast votes in the state on the territory occupied since first week of month-long overseas The 13th Summit June 1967, with Al Quds as its capital. absentee voting (OAV) for Philip- ends with an action It also reiterated the right of Pal- pine national elections. estinian refugees to return home in With 24 more days to go for plan and Istanbul accordance with international laws OAV to end, the number of voters Declaration on Syria, and UN General Assembly Resolution has surpassed the turnout in the 194 (III) adopted on December 11, 1948. 2013 elections. Yemen, Iraq and The summit stressed the need for “After one week, over 4,000 Azerbaijan. an early international peace confer- voters have cast votes. They rep- ence to set mechanisms to provide resent more than 9 percent of global protection for the Palestinian the registered voters. We have people and end the Israeli occupation exceeded the turnout in 2013 elec- QNA & Agencies of the Palestinian territories since 1967, tions,” Philippine Ambassador including East Jerusalem, in implemen- Wilfredo C Santos told The Penin- tation of UN resolutions and the Arab sula yesterday. “We are thankful peace initiative. It sought the adoption and pleased with the turnout ISTANBUL: The 13th Organisation of a UN Security Council resolution to because it underscores the strong of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Summit end Israeli occupation within a time- interest of overseas Filipinos in ended yesterday with the adoption of table and reaffirmed support for efforts these very important elections.” a joint resolution on Palestine, OIC’s of the State of Palestine to accede to The last OAV saw very low 2016-2025 action plan and an Istan- global treaties and organisations. It turnout in many countries. In bul Declaration. called for a plan to develop Al Quds Qatar, 2,800 out of 23,260 reg- The summit hoped to strengthen and urged OIC member states to pro- istered voters took part in the unity and solidarity between Muslim vide financial resources. 2013 elections. There are over countries in the fight against terrorism. The summit renewed support to 44,000 registered voters in Qatar Leaders also discussed the situation Lebanon to complete the liberation of for this year’s elections which are in Syria, Yemen, Iraq and Azerbaijan, its territories from Israeli occupation expected to witness the highest among others. The summit, chaired through legitimate means and stressed turnout since OAV began in 2004. by Turkish President Recep Tayyip the need for Israel to withdraw from Yesterday saw the highest Erdogan, stressed the centrality of Shebaa Farms, Kfarchouba Hills and number of voters during the week, the cause of Palestine and Al Quds for the Lebanese part of Al Ghajar. It with over 1,100 arriving at the the Muslims. sought full implementation of Res- embassy, prompting it to extend It reaffirmed its principled support olution 1701 (2016) and condemned the process by two more hours Emir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani met Turkish Prime Minister Dr Ahmet Davutoglu on the sidelines for the right of the Palestinian people continuing Israeli violations of Leb- to accommodate them, including to regain their inalienable national anon’s sovereignty. of the 13th OIC Summit in Istanbul yesterday. They discussed relations between the two countries, means some from far-off places. rights, including the right to self-deter- of enhancing them, regional and international issues and topics on the summit’s agenda. The Emir’s mination and the establishment of an → Continued on page 2 delegation was present. → Continued on page 2 HIA working on Households prefer fresh local farm produce to imports smart traveller By Mohammad Shoeb prices at some hypermarkets and “In addition to local tomatoes, food security in the country has also and seeding,” he added. programme The Peninsula retail outlets. eggplants, pumpkins, white onions helped in terms of the growth in the Under the hydroponics method of For example, fresh cherry toma- and other vegetables, people come number of farmers, farm size and farming, plants are grown by using toes directly sourced from local here to buy rare products, such as productivity. mineral nutrient solutions, in water By Sidi Mohamed farms were available at QR12 a kg at domesticated poultry, ducks, rabbits “About six month ago, we started but without soil. These plants are The Peninsula DOHA: Fresh local vegetables and Al Wakrah yard compared to QR30- and ornamental plants,” said a vege- a farm in an area of over two hec- grown with their roots in the mineral fruits, which are the first priority of QR40 a kg at retail stores. Local table vendor at Al Wakrah yard. tares in Umm Salal Ali. We produce solution only, or in an inert medium, customers because of superior qual- capsicums (red and yellow ones) The increasing supply of fresh tomatoes, cucumbers, capsicums, such as perlite or gravel. DOHA: The number of travellers ity and affordable prices, are giving were available at as low as QR7 a kg at vegetables at affordable prices cherry tomatoes and lettuce through “F G Agro is a US-based company. entering and departing the coun- a tough competition to imported pro- farmers’ markets, while the imported almost throughout the year, has hydroponics methods of farming It is the first of its kind operating in try through Hamad International duce. ones were sold at about QR20 a kg become possible due to technological in greenhouses,” said Ali Erdoğan, Qatar, and producing several popular Airport increased by 14 percent last Some local items such as fresh at hypermarkets and supermarkets. advancements in the agro industry, Manger of the farm run by F G Agro vegetables. Our produce is fresh and year due to ongoing construction tomatoes, cucumbers, capsicums, Like other farmers’ markets, Al which has enabled local farmers company. “We have set up about affordable,” said a salesman work- boom, reflecting positively on the cherry tomatoes and leafy vegeta- Wakrah yard is becoming popular to grow a wide range of produce in nine greenhouses (each spreading ing at the farm. performance of the Airport Pass- bles like spinach, coriander and mint among households and restaurant greenhouses even in extreme climatic over nearly 2,200 square metres). “Currently, we are able to har- ports Department, a senior officer leaves, are being sold at the farmers’ owners who have started frequent- conditions. Three are for tomatoes, two each for vest about 1,500kg of tomatoes and at the airport has said. markets in Al Wakrah, Al Mazrouah ing to the market in large numbers to The government’s support to local cucumbers and capsicums, one for between 600kg and 700kg of cucum- Col. Mohammed Rashid Al and Al Khor at nearly half the retail buy fresh vegetables at cheaper rates. farmers as part of its efforts to achieve cherry tomatoes and one for lettuce bers at the farm every two days.” Mazroui, Director of the depart- ment, said: “Earlier, there used to be a peak time of passenger arrival and departure and sometimes it dropped, but now the peak time Egyptians protest islands deal is all the time.” Travellers can complete pro- cedures fast which has also helped reduce long queues, which were Reuters using the signature chant of the 2011 revolt sometimes because some people against then president Hosni Mubarak, who obtained visa on arrival, some later stepped down. were yet have their eyes scanned, They also chanted: “Sisi - Mubarak”; “We others had exceeded the duration CAIRO: Thousands of Egyptians angered by don’t want you, leave”; and “We own the land of stay abroad while some had President Abdel Fattah Al Sisi’s decision to and you are agents who sold our land.” In other their passports amended — all of hand over two islands to Saudi Arabia yester- parts of Cairo, police fired tear gas at protest- which took a lot of time. day called for the government to fall, chanting ers, sources said. Saudi and Egyptian officials The department is working to a slogan from the 2011 Arab Spring uprising. say the islands belong to the kingdom and were cope with the increasing number Security forces detained some 50 protest- under Egyptian control because Riyadh had of travellers by further developing ers and police surrounded the Press Syndicate asked Cairo in 1950 to protect them. entry and departure procedures. building in Cairo, the site of the biggest dem- In a tweet, former top auditor Hesham Work is also going on to use smart onstration. Al Sisi’s government prompted an Geneina, sacked by Al Sisi last month, described traveller programme, and provide outcry in newspapers and on social media last the protests as the “purest, bravest and most more training for airport staff, week when it announced a maritime demar- noble demonstration of Egyptians” in decades. he said, adding 1,077 employees cation accord that put the uninhabited Red Sea In Alexandria, around 500 people protested attended training courses last year. islands of Tiran and Sanafir in Saudi waters. near a railway station. Calls for protests have “The people want the downfall of the gathered thousands of supporters on Facebook, Egyptians chant slogans during a protest in front of the Press Syndicate building in Cairo.