More than 15,000 people visited the Animal Production Show (Mara'ee) on its first day on Thursday at Bahrain International Endurance Village in Sakhir.

The event, being organised by the Municipalities and Urban Planning Affairs Ministry and held under the patronage of His Majesty King Hamad, will run up till Tuesday.

The last Mara'ee (Fields) event was held in November 2010 and attracted more than 100,000 visitors.

Speaking after the opening, Municipalities and Urban Planning Affairs Minister Dr Juma Al Ka'abi said, "We are currently working on a special market for small animal farmers and raisers, where they can showcase their products."

The farmers and animal breeders will also receive financial backing from the government in a bid to improve their living standards, said Dr Al Ka'abi after touring the expo.

They can turn their farms into fully-fledged businesses in co-operation with Tamkeen, he added.

"Also, new agriculture incubators currently being worked on by the ministry alongside the private sector and international organisations will certainly open up new opportunities for small farmers and raisers.

"It will mean that instead of having farmers listed as job-seekers, they will be able to run their own businesses and provide other Bahrainis with job opportunities.

"There are a lot of Bahraini investors looking for innovative agriculture and animal businesses and it is time small farmers and raisers were made aware of the doors open to them."

Dr Al Ka'abi said several innovative projects were in the pipeline to improve the agriculture sector, particularly animal farming. "We are currently working on making aquaculture another possible business opportunity for Bahrainis," he added.

An Omani delegation which is on visit to Mara'ee said it hoped to learn from Bahrain's experiences as the event is a unique exhibition that is unmatched in the Gulf region.

"We want to organise such production shows and implement advancements in animal agriculture in Oman and Bahrain is helping us a lot with ideas and visions," said Omani Agriculture Minister Dr Fuad Al Sajwani.

Jordanian Agriculture Minister Ahmed Al Khatab said Mara'ee was more advanced than any international exhibition in the field.

"It is comprehensive and has everything from the basics to the introduction of new technologies that have made exhibits more appealing and attractions more fantastic," he stated.

More than 200,000 people from the Gulf region are expected to attend the event which runs till March 27.-TradeArabia News Service