Quick Tips: Eating Organic and Exercise

@ Thelonius: That's a good point. Agriculture is a science hence it should be studied and developed. 

For some countries it is their main source of export e.g. Liberia. Countries like Nigeria also focused on Agriculture until the discovery of Oil.

Because a country has Oil and Gas does not mean that other raw materials shouldn't be developed. Many Alternative forms of energy are coming up, hence it will help Qatar if they gear their efforts towards Agriculture. 

In fact agriculture is crucial in the development of alternative forms of energy. For example Ethanol Fuel is already being used in many developed countries, the United states being the leader. Ethanol comes from agricultural crops such as Sugar cane and Maize.

Agriculture is not just about eating organic, it is nature, it is the complete embodiment of life. Many of the medicines we take today their core nutrients were discovered in Nature. Without agriculture Coffee wouldn't exist, without agriculture coca cola wouldn't function, without agriculture many of our drug stores will be empty.

A point to note: "Many Agricultural products have proven to be especially essential for Married couples".

@Fubar: Your post is very important, thank you. 

It is evident that Qatar needs to pay attention to Agriculture, rather than always import food, the government can provide grants for farmers to encourage and support them.

The thing with food is that the effect usually occurs in the long run, diseases and illnesses won't come suddenly.

"Home grown food should be developed, just as education and technology is being developed in Qatar".

Developed economies like the UK support local farmers, hence encouraging Agricultural development.

maybe in a few years we could expect more variety of fruit and vegetables, once the ports issues are resolved.

Limited port capacity hits food supply

DOHA: Importers are battling heavy odds as they say they cannot meet the increasing demand for foodstuff and construction materials due to slow clearance by Doha Port.

The port being old has a limited ship and container handling capacity, so import volumes cannot be increased. Also, the customs clearance procedures are time-consuming, they claim.

The result is huge wastage, especially of fresh and perishable food products, and rising prices.

The Qatar Chamber, representative body of the private sector, has, thus, urged the port authorities to take steps so it can handle more ships and speed up goods clearance.

“We have suggested that warehouses be built so the (food) containers can be taken directly there instead of leaving them in open space in the port premises,” said Mohamed bin Ahmed Tawar Al Kuwari.

Al Kuwari, who is the Vice-Chairman of the Chamber, said this was the only solution to tackle the problem of congestion at the container yard at the port.

According to him, delay in goods clearance is mainly due to a lack of space for containers at the port. “With so many mega development projects being launched and the population of the country surging literally by the day, imports have been rising feverishly due to increasing demand,” Al Kuwari told local daily Al Raya in remarks published yesterday.

The pressure was particularly on the import of foodstuff (since the population has been increasing) and raw materials used in the booming construction industry,

he said.

Businessman Ali Hassan Al Khalaf said that goods clearance procedures are time-consuming since several agencies are involved in the process.

The Customs Department, Environment Ministry and the public health authorities are involved in the clearing process.

The result of the delay in releasing the imported goods is that food items, especially, are spoiled in large quantities, he said.

It is tragic that importers have to face such odds at a time so many mega infrastructure development projects are being launched in the country, he hinted.

Al Khalaf said that the various state agencies also levy fees on the importers and that pushes up the cost of goods. Another businessman, Kazim Al Ansari, said that Doha Port can only handle two ships at a time. “The third ship must remain anchored as long as unloading of these two vessels is going on,” he said.

Businessman Ghassan Al Salem said that the New Doha Port, which is under construction at a huge outlay between

Al Wakra and Mesaieed, is expected to be ready only by 2016.

“Only then can we expect importers’ woes to end,” said

Al Salem.

The Peninsula

Really it all boils down to discipline and consistency.

@ FathimaH: Unfortunately that's the way it is. Silvermist says it all, we just have to be conscious of what we put in our body, as the popular saying goes: ''U are what you eat''.

Every once in a while we could treat ourselves with Hagen Dazz, Ben and Jerrys and the rest. But lets just eat more organic than the unhealthy stuff. Whenever you take the unhealthy stuff, exercise and burn it all out!

@Molten Metal: When I jog, sometimes I make it a habit not to look at anyone...even if I know eyes are on me. However if people look at you, its cool. Just focus and finish what you set out to do.

TFS ,Aikman.It's a good thought.We can't be over-whelmed and try to change every single item we consume over to the organic version all at once. But we could try making small changes, even one at a time, and eating / buying organic whenever we can.

Organic food is like a controlling girlfriend: You love how it makes you feel, but you hate how it keeps pushing you away from your family and friends

Great advices. It is quite perturbing that many times organic food costs so much more than all those unhealthy options. Personally I see it as an investment to spend on the healthier alternatives but I do wish in time to come we will see organic food being sold at prices more affordable for everyone.

It's embarrassing when somebody watches as you jog or walk .......... Tue, 29.10.2013, 05.43 hrs .....