T + T – Normal size
The Department of Agriculture and Animal Wealth in Sharjah has begun distributing non-GMO wheat seeds to farmers, as part of the generosity of His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah; with the aim of enhancing the emirate’s food security strategy and achieving self-sufficiency in wheat cultivation. This came during the launch of the third phase of the seed distribution initiative by His Excellency Salem Abdullah Al Kaabi at the administrative building of the wheat farm in Maliha, in the presence of members of the Wheat Farmers Association and a number of farmers.
Sustainable development
His Excellency Dr. Eng. Khalifa Musabah Al Tunaiji, Chairman of the Department of Agriculture and Animal Wealth, stressed: “The continuation of distributing wheat seeds to farmers comes within the framework of the Sharjah Food Security Strategy, which receives the attention of His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah, when His Highness addressed the farmers during the inauguration of the Maliha Farm Project, saying: “We start with you and transform this empty land into wheat farms.” This great support for farmers comes from His Highness’s belief in the importance of wheat cultivation, to preserve agricultural resources and sustainable projects that provide healthy and safe food, and reliance on local production, which reflects the government policies that support productive farms in the emirate, and the provision of wheat and other various agricultural crops, which contributes to their availability in sales outlets at reasonable prices, and reduces reliance on foreign imports.
Best practices
His Excellency Khalifa Al Tunaiji explained that the first and second phases of the project recorded the distribution of 15 tons of wheat, benefiting about 800 farmers from all over the Emirates, noting the department’s keenness to employ all capabilities and resources to provide safe crops and food products, by adopting the best advanced agricultural methods.
Guidance programs
For his part, His Excellency Salem Abdullah Al Kaabi, Director of the Department of Agriculture and Animal Wealth, said that the wheat seed distribution initiative aims to produce high-quality wheat by distributing non-genetically modified strains to farmers, to provide safe food crops.
Salem Al Kaabi added: It is planned to distribute more than 15 tons of seeds of the “Yukura Rojo” strain, calling on wheat farmers to benefit from this initiative and quickly contact the department to obtain wheat seed packages.
He pointed out that the department provides, in addition to this initiative, various guidance and awareness programmes for farmers, in addition to modern agricultural equipment and machinery for agricultural operations in cooperation with the Wheat Growers Association, and the use of agricultural technologies that contribute to saving water and preserving the environment according to the best practices and methods of modern agriculture.
