UAE leadership establishes agriculture as pillar of future development and immortal legacy

The UAE has established agriculture as an essential pillar of development and civilization, despite the environmental challenges facing the country, including the desert nature, water scarcity, lack of land suitability for agriculture, climate drought, and other challenges facing the development of the agricultural sector.

Since the establishment of the state, the wise leadership has adopted plans aimed at increasing local agricultural production, by promoting agricultural innovations and attracting modern technological methods in agriculture, which will ensure that have a significant increase in agricultural production with low levels of water consumption, while at the same time benefiting from it. natural resources.

The famous saying of the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, may God have mercy on him: “Give me agriculture and I will guarantee you civilization” created a compass for guiding development plans throughout the journey of the UAE, and achieved great products and products he raised the agricultural sector to high levels, and succeeded in creating the creativity of Zayed’s children with leadership.

The national program “Plant the Emirates”, which was launched by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, may God protect him, comes in the direction of- within the guidelines of the wise leadership to take care of it. the agricultural sector, increasing the role of technology in developing agricultural methods, and encouraging members of society to practice agriculture and expand the green area.

The national program “Grow the Emirates” aims to encourage the local community to produce the most important agricultural products at home, support efforts to preserve the environment, and establish a positive mental image of the local produce with high nutritional value also supports the “Year of Sustainability 2024” and increases the environmental sustainability system through… The effective contribution of local products to reducing carbon footprint as products new.

Zayed’s legacy

Sheikh Zayed, may God have mercy on him, wanted to improve agricultural potential through reclaiming new agricultural land, building aflaj and building canals, as well as providing free water .

He was interested in establishing special agricultural institutions, and Emiri decree No. 3 of 1966 to establish government departments and distribute their competences in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi included the establishment of the Department of Agriculture and Livestock in Al Ain to establish specialized agricultural sectors and support them with groups and experts in various agricultural sciences and specialties to increase Efficiency in implementing ambitious projects.

Sheikh Zayed’s interest in agriculture emerged early, and this was evident when the “Construction of Greenhouses on Saadiyat Island” project was launched in the 1960s. launched comprehensive agricultural development projects in Al Ain in Abu Dhabi and across the UAE.

The conviction of the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, may God rest his soul, was firmly established in the feasibility and importance of agriculture and the agricultural potential of the country, despite the views of many international experts at the time which he saw impossible. agriculture in the nature of the desert and difficult climatic conditions of the UAE, as well as the lack of rain and water.

He confirmed this in a speech on 1 December 2003, saying: “We are able to transform the land of this country, which was said to be unsuitable for agriculture and development, into scattered farms as long as the eye can see, and into gardens, green forests, and fruit factories.”

Encouraging agricultural creativity

The wise leadership encourages creativity in the agricultural sector and presents ideas and projects that take advantage of the latest and most advanced technologies, and follow international best practices to increase the productivity of the sector. increase agriculture and expand food production locally, and provide sufficient support to farmers to strengthen the food security system.

His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the President of the State, may God protect him, is keen to support workers in the agricultural sector and promote ambitious projects for the people of the Emirates, through which they apply the latest agricultural systems and technologies to provide the highest quality agricultural products that contribute to achieving sustainable food security in the country.

The platform provides an electronic portal with accurate and comprehensive information on various aspects of the agriculture and food sector in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, starting from agricultural production, all the way to distribution and consumption.

Important prizes

The late Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, may God have mercy on him, established the Khalifa International Award for Date Palm and Agricultural Innovation in 2007 in recognition of the outstanding efforts and contributions of individuals and institutions in the field of agricultural innovation and date. Next year’s session, 2025, is considered the seventeenth session of the award.

During this period, the award saw a significant increase in the number of national winners compared to the number of winners from the rest of the world, which shows the influence the award had among the authorities. able in the country and those working in the country. sector of palm cultivation, production, manufacturing and marketing of dates, and in the field of research and study, which contributed to increasing the competitiveness of Emirati dates at the international level, the award has become a milestone important in the development process of this sector at local, regional and international levels.

Since its establishment, the total number of candidates for the different categories of the award has reached 2,012 participants representing 59 countries around the world, of which 102 won The number of Arab participants in the award reached 1,586, of which 54 candidates won The number of participants from the UAE reached 161 candidates, of which 30 citizens won While the number of foreigners who participated in the award reached 265, 18 of them won, and were honored to 73 dignitaries and national and international groups, including 34 personalities or groups from. the UAE.

One of the important awards in this field is the Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Award for Agricultural Excellence, which launched its first session in 2023, and is considered one of the innovative initiatives to promote agricultural innovation, identify distinguished farmers and livestock breeders at the national and national level. regional levels, supporting the food security system, and reinforcing the concepts of agricultural sustainability and to support the application of global best practices to develop the agricultural sector and ensure the sustainability of resources the main categories of the award, and 107 winners won in its various categories, and the total prizes in the two sessions exceeded 16.7 million dirhams.

On the other hand, beekeeping and honey production represent one aspect of sustainable agricultural development that supports the food security system, as well as the environmental importance of beekeeping through its contribution to the process pollination related to the propagation of plants and trees.