DUBAI: The UAE Ministry of Climate and Environment has announced a new initiative to improve the efficiency of agricultural advisory services, state news agency WAM reported on Sunday.
The program is part of the UAE's broader efforts to increase agricultural production and strengthen national food security.
It is aimed at improving the skills and professional capacity of agricultural agents, equipping them with tools for effective technology transfer and sharing of modern agricultural methods, thereby increasing productivity.
The program includes specialized training in areas such as soil and irrigation, plant and horticulture, fruit production, pest prevention and control, and beekeeping and honey production, WAM added.
It also features lectures and seminars to improve the skills of agricultural agents, as well as field courses that provide practical application of theoretical knowledge, improve communication skills and increase confidence.
“The Agricultural Extension Performance Program is part of our ongoing commitment to support the sustainability of national farms in the UAE, aimed at strengthening and developing the sector in the future,” said Mohammed Salman Al Hammadi, Assistant Undersecretary of the Food Diversity Sector. in the ministry.
He added: “The program aims to develop a specialized pathway for all agricultural extension agents covering key areas in the sector. Through this, we aim to build capacity and competence in the agricultural sector, which in turn will help increase local agricultural production and support the transformation of national food systems into more sustainable systems.”
The program also provides for the development of an annual agricultural management plan that will monitor and support farmers in improving crop production and protecting crops from pests.
It will include a tree maintenance schedule and growing seasons for each crop, focusing on date palm, fruit, vegetable, forage and honey production. Operations will also cover irrigation, fertilization and land reclamation.
The program will also produce technical and advisory farm visit reports, including data analysis, recommendations and documentation of results to ensure continuous improvement and meet the needs of farmers.
Al-Hamadi stressed the importance of improving communication between agricultural agents and farmers, with plans for regular farm visits and meetings to discuss issues. The initiative aims to increase crop yields, establish clear standards and targets for agricultural management programs and ultimately increase farmer satisfaction.
