His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, has recently launched the national program ‘Plant the Emirates’. The program includes several initiatives that align with the UAE’s vision to advance agricultural development and ensure sustainable national food security.
Sheikh Mohammed made the announcement during the UAE Cabinet‘s latest meeting in Al Marmoom, Dubai.
“The national program “Plant the Emirates” carries forward the legacy of the late Sheikh Zayed, fulfilling his vision to green, cultivate, and nurture the land of the UAE. Our goal is to embed a culture of agriculture in every school, every home, and in the hearts of our future generations,” he stated.
National Agriculture Center
Sheikh Mohammed added that the ‘Plant the Emirates’ program seeks to strengthen the UAE’s food security. It also aims to advance agricultural technologies, build new partnerships with the private sector, and expand green spaces.
“As part of the initiative, the Cabinet approved the establishment of The National Agriculture Center, a driving force for this sector in the coming years. It will provide technical and technological support, foster partnerships, launch initiatives, and promote local agricultural products,” he added.
The center is responsible for developing and implementing strategic initiatives and programs that seek to increase productivity, improve supply chains, and reduce agricultural production costs.
It will also seek to minimize agricultural waste and support the marketing of local agricultural products. By providing technical support for innovative projects, the center will ensure that the agricultural sector continues to evolve, adopting modern practices and technology-driven solutions.
Center to raise productive farm numbers
Over the next five years (2025-2030), the center will focus on raising the number of productive farms in the country by 20 percent. It also aims to raise the number of organic farms by 25 percent under the ‘Plant the Emirates’ program.
Furthermore, it aims to foster the adoption of climate-smart solutions across 30 percent of farms and reduce agricultural waste by 50 percent. Among its other key targets is to increase the use of local agricultural products in restaurants and hotels throughout the UAE by 25 percent. The center also seeks to increase the number of workers in the sector by 15 percent.
Advancing domestic agriculture
The national program ‘Plant the Emirates’ supports the UAE’s vision to advance agriculture development and achieve sustainable national food security. It aims to encourage local community members to practice domestic agriculture by cultivating key agriculture products at home. Moreover, it aims to expand green spaces in the country, support environment protection efforts, and make the UAE agricultural products a synonym for quality and high nutritional value.
The program also aligns with the ‘Year of Sustainability 2024′ and supports enhancing the environment sustainability ecosystem through enhancing local products’ effective contribution to reducing the carbon footprint.
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