Former university president motivates others to take up farming

Prof Sheikha Abdulla al-Misnad. (Supplied picture)

Some 75km north of Doha lies the sprawling 360-acre Jerry Smieh Farm and leading it from the front is a former president of Qatar University (QU). Prof Sheikha Abdulla al-Misnad, QU’s fifth president and the only woman president so far, is actively engaged in the activities of the farm and feels that it is one of the best ways to contribute to Qatar’s growth. “Farming, I believe, offers a lot of potential to help the country become self-sufficient in several areas, and I enjoy visiting the farm and taking part in the activities over there. I encourage others, especially youngsters, to take up such initiatives that help the country progress in a big way,” Prof al-Misnad told Gulf Times. She said Jerry Smieh is one of the oldest family farms in the country and was established in the '50s. “In recent years, there has been more investment to develop the farm to make it a commercial farm, supplying the local market with the best-quality vegetables, poultry and other products,” she explained.