DUBAI: The UAE 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 wider efforts to improve agricultural production and strengthen national food security.
It aims to improve the skills and professional capacity of agricultural agents, equip them with tools to effectively transfer technology and share modern agricultural 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 lectures and workshops to improve the skills of agricultural agents, along with field courses that provide practical application of theoretical knowledge, improve communication skills and increase confidence.
“The Agricultural Extension Efficiency Improvement Program will be part of our ongoing commitment to support the sustainability of national farms in the UAE with a view to strengthening and growing the sector in the future,” said Mohammed Salman Al-Hammadi, Assistant Undersecretary for the Diversity Sector of food. at the ministry.
He added: “The program aims to develop a specialized pathway for all agricultural extension agents covering the key areas of the sector. Through this, we seek to build capacity and skills for agricultural extension, which in turn would help improve local agricultural production and support the transformation of national food systems to more sustainable systems.”
The program also includes developing an annual agricultural guidance plan, which will monitor and support farmers in improving crop production and protecting crops from pests.
It will include a timetable for service activities related to trees and growing seasons for each crop, focusing on date palms, fruits, vegetables, fodder and honey production. The operations will also include irrigation, fertilization and land reclamation.
The program will also prepare technical reports and farm visit advisory reports, 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 agents and farmers, with plans for regular farm visits and meetings to discuss challenges. The initiative aims to improve crop yields, set clear standards and targets for agricultural guidance programs and ultimately increase farmer satisfaction.
