DUBAI: The United Arab Emirates Ministry of Climate Change and Environment has announced a new initiative to increase the efficiency of agricultural extension 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.
The aim is to improve the skills and professional competencies of agricultural professionals and to give them the tools for effective technology transfer and dissemination of modern agricultural techniques in order to increase productivity.
The programme includes specialised training in areas such as soil and irrigation, plant and vegetable cultivation, fruit growing, pest prevention and control, and beekeeping and honey production, WAM added.
In addition, lectures and workshops are offered to improve the skills of agricultural professionals, as well as field courses to put theoretical knowledge into practice, improve communication skills and build self-confidence.
“The Agricultural Extension Efficiency Improvement Programme is part of our ongoing commitment to support the sustainability of national farms in the UAE and aims to strengthen and grow the sector in the future,” said Mohammed Salman Al-Hammadi, Assistant Undersecretary for the Food Diversity Sector at the Ministry.
He added: “The programme aims to develop a specialised pathway for all agricultural extension workers, covering the key areas of the sector. Through this, we aim to build the capacity and competence of agricultural extension workers, which in turn would help increase local agricultural production and support the transformation of national food systems into more sustainable ones.”
The programme also includes the development of an annual agricultural advisory plan to monitor and assist farmers in improving their crop yields and protecting their crops from pests.
The plan includes a schedule of service works related to trees and growing seasons for each crop, with a focus on date palms, fruits, vegetables, livestock feed and honey production. The works also include irrigation, fertilization and land reclamation.
The programme also produces technical reports and reports on advisory visits to farms, including data analysis, recommendations and documentation of results, to ensure continuous improvement and meet farmers' needs.
Al-Hammadi stressed the importance of improved communication between agricultural representatives and farmers. Regular visits to farms and meetings to discuss challenges are planned. The aim of the initiative is to improve crop yields, set clear standards and goals for agricultural extension programs and ultimately increase farmer satisfaction.
