Dubai: Up to 26,000 palm trees across the country will be sprayed with an organic insecticide by the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment to preserve the date-producing groves.
In a statement on Tuesday, the ministry said the spraying will counter the effects of the dust spider in palm-tree groves in the northern, central and eastern regions of the UAE.
The organic insecticide is a natural compound of vegetable oils, and has a high capacity to retain moisture, which prolongs its effectiveness on surfaces.
The concentrated insecticide has a destruction rate of 99.83 per cent. The insecticide is used to control mites, sooty mold, scale, whitefly and mealy bugs on fruits, nuts, evergreens and shrubs.
The project is being done in partnership with Swaidan Trading Company.
The effort is in line with the “Year of Giving” initiative declared by President His Highness Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the ministry said.
Sultan Bin Alwan Al Habshi, assistant undersecretary for Regions at the ministry, said the project will ensure dates from these trees could be consumed in a healthy and safe manner.
Al Habshi said the project would apply Integrated Pest Management (IPM) to reduce infection in palm trees to 1.5 per cent by the end of this year.
The project will also install and maintain photovoltaic traps and treat infected trees.
The ministry will also step up efforts to educate and train farmers in palm tree farming, based on innovative solutions and the latest systems and techniques in the field.
As part of its efforts to support farmers and develop local agriculture, the ministry provides farmers with agricultural needs and requirements at half the price, Al Habshi said.
Items sold on discount include fertilisers, pesticides and seeds, as well as organic farming supplies, such as irrigation pipes, pumps and soil testing equipment, in addition to the Mawroothna card launched by the ministry to grant farmers and fishermen benefits, discounts and other privileges.
These efforts have resulted in an increase in aquatic agriculture by 37.5 per cent in the last three years.
