Dubai: The UAE's Ministry of Climate Change and Environment announced a new initiative to increase 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 aims to improve the skills and professional capabilities of agricultural agents, equip them with tools to effectively transfer technology and share modern farming techniques, thereby increasing productivity.
The program includes specialized training in areas such as soil and irrigation, crop and vegetable production, fruit production, pest prevention and control, and beekeeping and honey production, WAM added.
It also includes field courses that provide practical application of theoretical knowledge, improve communication skills, and build confidence, as well as lectures and workshops to enhance the skills of agricultural agents.
“The Agricultural Extension Efficiency Improvement Program comes as part of our ongoing commitment to support the sustainability of national farms in the UAE with the aim of strengthening and growing this sector in the future,” said Mohammed Salman Al-Hammadi, Assistant Undersecretary for Food Diversity. in the ministry.
He added: “The program aims to develop a special pathway for all agricultural extension agents covering key areas of the region. Through this, we seek to build agricultural extension capacity and competence, which, in turn, will help increase local agricultural production and transform the national food system into a more sustainable one.”
The program also includes developing an annual plan for agricultural guidance, which will monitor and support farmers to improve crop yields and protect crops from pests.
It will include a schedule of service activities related to trees and farming seasons for each crop, with a focus on date palm, fruit, vegetable, hay and honey production. Works will also cover irrigation, fertilization and land reclamation.
The program will also prepare on-farm technical reports and advisory visit reports, including data analysis, recommendations and documentation of results to ensure continuous improvement and address farmers' needs.
Al-Hammadi highlighted the importance of enhanced communication between agricultural agents and farmers, planning regular farm visits and meetings to discuss challenges. The initiative aims to improve crop production, set clear criteria and objectives for agricultural guidance programs and ultimately increase farmer satisfaction.
