The Abu Dhabi Farmers' Services Centre, ADFSC, announced yesterday their production plan for the 2015-2016 season, saying the production will start at the end of this month and harvesting is due to begin in November.

A total of 40 products will be grown during the season and four additional crops will be added compared with the previous season. Farmers in Abu Dhabi will supply an estimated 31,050 tons of class one produce during the harvest season.

To achieve this increase in production, the plan calls for an area 6,526 acres divided by 4,635 acres for open field crops, and 1,891 acres for greenhouse crops - equivalent to around 5,670 individual greenhouses. The production period lasts for 34 weeks, including 15 weeks of ‘peak season' where up to 1,300 tons will be harvested per week.

Ten key crops represent approximately 77% of the total expected production, while cucumbers alone constitute around 41% of the total expected production followed by round tomatoes (16.6%), eggplant (4.7%), and sweet peppers (4.4%). This seasons Production Plan focuses on cultivating crops such as cabbage, potatoes, and coloured pepper.

ADFSC will give more details about the Plan in a series of meetings with farmers in Abu Dhabi and Al Ain, where cropping schedules, crop types, production forecasts, and financial returns will be discussed. Farmers will also be given the opportunity to register their interest in supplying vegetables to local markets through outlets offered to them by ADFSC.

"We are keen to develop an annual Production Plan in order to achieve sustainability in the agriculture sector and support food security in the emirate of Abu Dhabi. The plan takes into consideration production and harvesting time in addition to studying the situation of the market and the processes of supply and demand for products that can be grown in local soil," said ADFSC Managing Director Khalifa Al Ali.

ADFSC is also offering farmers a Minimum Price Guarantee protecting them from price fluctuations in the market and securing a minimum guaranteed income, enabling the farm owner to better allocate their budget and resources.

"When the Final Market Price (FMP) is lower than the MGP, ADFSC will pay the MGP that is higher; however, ADFSC takes a commission estimated at 15% to cover all costs only when the FMP is higher than the MGP," continued Al Ali.

ADFSC provides a fleet of cooled vehicles equipped with refrigerators to transport products grown in greenhouses to be delivered to marketing centres. Whilst, farmers collect and deliver their open field crops to their closest collection centre or pack house where products are graded, packed, and then supplied to the market.

The responsibility of produce quality lies with the farmer as the role of ADFSC is limited to providing technical support. During the harvest period, produce is graded by quality standards approved by ADFSC and the quality specification manual distributed to farmers.

Local vegetables products are available through most retail and wholesale outlets in addition to many catering companies under the "Local Harvest" brand.