Dr. Nasser Al Nuaimi, Chairman of the Security, Justice and Safety Committee at the Abu Dhabi Executive Council, visited the headquarters of the Abu Dhabi Farmers' Services Centre, ADFSC, to learn of the latest agricultural developments in the emirate and support local produce.
ADFSC officials briefed Nuaimi about the services the centre provides farmers, and the efforts it makes to provide agricultural equipment and support the sector in the emirate.
Nuaimi was introduced to the most important strategic projects and operations launched by the ADFSC, as well as to the centre’s efforts to support local produce. A presentation on this support indicated that the centre is working on providing the necessary support to farm owners and on increasing their awareness about the importance of agricultural investments in the country and abroad to help support the food and agriculture sector, as well as the sustainability of food supplies.
Nuaimi emphasised the need to focus on protecting produce in the local market, and called for including this objective as a key element of the centre’s strategy, as it plays a large role in increasing the market share of local products.
He was also briefed about the most important services the ADFSC provides to support farm owners in Abu Dhabi. With a total of 24,000 farms in the emirate, the centre’s efforts are focussed on limiting the impact of pesticides and their harm to the environment, and adopting soil preservation mechanisms and the latest water rationing techniques.
Nuaimi further reviewed ways to increase efficiency in the use of natural resources, and to conform with international standards, especially those related to pesticide residues, to guarantee that local produce is free from chemical residues and biological contaminants.
The ADFSC also works on rehabilitating farms by implementing best agricultural practices. So far, 190 farms have been rehabilitated and obtained the Good Agricultural Practices, GAP, Certificate. The official praised the efforts made to obtain these certificates and stressed the need to rehabilitate as many farms as possible.
Nuaimi was then informed about the most important studies and plans that aim to increase the market share of items produced by farms in Abu Dhabi. The sale of local agricultural products increased by 14.7 percent at the end of 2016 compared to 2014, confirming the developments the agricultural and farming sector has witnessed in the emirate.
The ADFSC seeks to open various sale points to allow the owners of locally farmed animal and plant produce to market their products, and to provide opportunities for increased trade and revenue. This measure will also help expand trading channels and distribute local products to a larger group of consumers.

Source: WAM