New irrigation methods to reduce water usage by 40% in 5 years
Posted by Zawya
Khaleej Times
11 August 2010


DUBAI -- An irrigation demonstration farm in Seih Al Kheir, a first of its kind, was inaugurated on Tuesday in the presence of Rashed Mohamed Al Shariqi, Chairman of Abu Dhabi Farmers' Services Centre and Director General of Abu Dhabi Food Control Authority, and a number of agricultural experts, farmers and farm owners from the
Western Region.

The farm was set up by the Abu Dhabi's Farmers' Services Centre (FSC) to help farmers in the UAE achieve higher productivity and better quality of crops as well as to reduce the use of natural resources through demonstration of modern irrigation technology.

Shariqi said the transition to the new system would reduce water usage for farming by 40 per cent in the
next five years.

"The irrigation demonstration farm will guide and encourage the region's farmers to adopt modern and efficient systems that reduce the use of water and increase agricultural productivity," Shariqi said.

"I call upon our brothers in the farming sector to cooperate with the efforts of the government which are aimed at preserving the nation's resources and improving the people's quality of life," he said.

According to Mubarak Ali Al Qusaili Al Mansouri, Executive Director of Agriculture, ADFCA and Governing Board Member, Farmers' Services Centre, the demonstration farm was modelled on the size and design of regional farms and makes it convenient for farmers to implement the system
in their own farms.

"Given the amount of water wasted in traditional farming practices, the new system promises unprecedented gains for the farmers, including higher productivity and ease and
efficiency of operations.

Current irrigation practices are not sustainable and have a detrimental effect on the natural environment. Up to 60 per cent of water applied on farms in Abu Dhabi's Seih Al Kheir area is wasted by current irrigation
practices," he said.

A plan for eight more irrigation demonstration sites in Abu Dhabi's Western Region has been set for the coming year.


© Khaleej Times 2010

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