Deep in the desert, in an air-conditioned barn, a cow steps onto a state-of-the art, mechanical carousel to have a milking machine attached to her udder.
A year ago, Qatar had no dairy herd - relying on milk imported from Saudi Arabia. Now, Baladna farm has 10,000 cattle. Most come from top breeders in the United States.
The first cows were flown in on Qatar Airways, a month after the start of the Gulf crisis, when this tiny state was put under a land blockade by its Arab neighbours.
They have become a symbol of national pride for Qatar in its new push for self-reliance.
"Everybody said it cannot be done and we have done it," says Peter Weltevreden who manages the farm.
"Our promise was that a year after the siege we would be self-sufficient in fresh milk."
On 5 June last year, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Egypt cut off all diplomatic, trade and transport links to Qatar.
They accused it of supporting terrorism, stirring up regional instability and seeking close ties with their arch-rival, Iran.
Qatar denied that and refused to comply with a long list of demands, including closing its Al Jazeera news network.
.png)
This wealthy emirate has since used its vast riches from offshore gas to find ways around its isolation, and sees the boycott as a challenge to its sovereignty.
"The main thing that the blockading states are aiming for [is] a power consolidation in the region," Qatar's Foreign Minister, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani, tells me.
...[ Continue to next page ]
Share This Post
