Abu Dhabi announces winter crop plan

The emirate expects a 51 per cent increase in local vegetable production during the upcoming farming season compared with the last season, the Abu Dhabi Farmers' Services Centre (ADFSC) announced on Monday. It will be a 206 per cent increase in production compared with the 2012 season, the centre announced. The next season begins in November and ends in October 2014. The centre has made winter crop plans for fields and greenhouses in all three regions of the emirate — Abu Dhabi, Al Ain and the Western Region. The centre will offer a minimum guaranteed price for farmers' products and a contract will be signed with the centre for this purpose. More than 42 products will be grown during the season but a maximum limit will be set for cucumber from a single farm. The centre will collect produce from greenhouse farmers in refrigerated trucks. Open field farmers will be able to deliver products to local collection centres. The centre will sort and grade the products as per the quality. Farmers will be able to select the crops they prefer to grow, according to the plan. But an expression of interest has to be submitted to the centre by August 15. The centre will then approve the varieties to be grown in every farm as per the market demand and approved criteria. Production starts at the end of this month and the harvest is expected to begin in November. The objective behind the development of a market-driven crop plan is in line with the objectives of sustainable agriculture in the emirate of Abu Dhabi and the demand of the local market. Traditional crops are still in demand in the market; however, they should be supplied for the longest period possible in a season to ensure a consistent and continuous supply. The minimum guaranteed price implemented by the centre for fresh produce is deemed one of the most efficient programmes designed to secure farmers' rights and protect them against market price fluctuations, the centre said. Moreover, the centre secures a minimum guaranteed income to enable the farmer to plan a budget taking into account production costs, it added. Source: Gulf News