Bahrain Fruits and Vegetables Market - Growth, Trends, COVID-19 Impact, and Forecasts (2023 - 2028)

Key Highlights

• Bahrain is characterized by high temperatures, limited arable land, water scarcity, and increasing groundwater salinity resulting in limited crops grown in the country. The national government is focusing on intensifying the finance for agriculture to attract foreign investments for agriculture projects to keep up with local demand.
• The major crops grown are dates, figs, mangos, pomegranates, melons, papayas, water turnips, potatoes, and tomatoes. Dates were the primary domestic fruit crop produced in Bahrain. The production increased from 13.8 thousand metric tons in 2020 to 14.1 thousand tons by 2021. Vegetables are the most important cash crop; 80% of vegetables are grown during winter. Tomato is the most important vegetable; other vegetables are cucumber, lettuce, okra, and onion.
• The increased production of fruits and vegetables in Bahrain has been paired with improved agricultural techniques, especially the adoption of hydroponics and infrastructure linking farmers with urban populations. Vegetables are produced in the open field and under controlled conditions, such as polytunnels and greenhouses. Greenhouse cultivation is particularly common for crops like tomatoes, cucumbers, and eggplants.

Bahrain Fruits and Vegetables Market Trends

Rising Import of Fresh Produce in the Country

• There is increasing cooperation between Middle Eastern countries with respect to the trade of fruits and vegetables. The intraregional trade scenario of Middle Eastern countries, such as Bahrain, with respect to the other countries in the region, reveals that Bahrain has been a net importer of several fruits and vegetables in the Middle Eastern region.
• However, with respect to vegetables, such as tomatoes, Bahrain is a net exporter to other member countries. Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates are the major trading partners with Bahrain with respect to fruits and vegetables. The imports of fruits and vegetables are increasing in the country due to the demand for fresh produce for a healthy diet.
• For instance, the imports of fruits have increased from USD 173,772 Thousand in 2020 to USD 174,734 Thousand in 2021. In 2021, India exported the first consignment of five unique apples from Himachal Pradesh to Bahrain. The five varieties are Royal Delicious, Dark Baron Gala, Scarlet Spur, Red Velox, and Golden Delicious.
• Agriculture and Processed Food Products Authority (APEDA), in collaboration with Himachal Pradesh Horticultural Produce Marketing and Processing Corporation (HPMC), exported these apples to the middle east nation.
• Bahrain also has a free-trade agreement (FTA) with the United States, which has bolstered its trade with North and South American countries. Thus, Bahrain's emphasis on collaborations with these global players is expected to promote the country's fresh produce trade further.

Tomatoes to Dominate the Fresh Vegetables in Bahrain

• In 2021, the production of tomatoes in Bahrain was more than 7,800.0 metric tons while witnessing a CAGR of 1.9% during the forecast period. Domestic production of tomatoes needs to be improved, and more and more tomatoes have been imported over the past several years. As a result, the proportional contribution of imports to total consumption is more than that of domestic production.
• According to Food and Agriculture Organization Corporate Statistical Database (FAOSTAT), over the forecast period, the proportional contribution of production to the demand is only 11.9%, while the rest is widely catered to through imports. However, a few major players, like Pure Harvest and Peninsular Farms, are making huge investments to satiate the domestic demand, but they cannot keep pace with the country’s rising demand.
• To encourage local farmers and raise awareness about the range of healthy delights in their stores, retail hypermarket giants Lulu and Saar featured Bahrain Farmers Market in 2019. Such awareness campaigns are likely to encourage the local farmers, thereby promoting the overall supply in the country.

Bahrain Fruits and Vegetables Industry Overview

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