Al Moalla |
Salinity, sharp drop in the underground water levels, drying out of wells and the natural water streams coming out of mountains and springs, have forced agriculture experts to search for alternative methods to irrigate farms and save these green pastures from turning into yellow desert again.
The ground water level in the UAE is reducing at an alarming rate of around one metre per year. If not checked, the fast depletion of underground water resources will soon be difficult to replenish by rain.
In the UAE, agriculture accounts for the majority of water use, followed by domestic use. The agricultural water demand in the UAE stood at 1,400 billion cubic metres (bcm) in 2000, and is due to reach 2,050 bcm in 2025.
Gulf News discussed the issue with Engineer Abdul Rashid Al Moalla, Director of Central Agricultural Region of the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, who suggested some practical solutions to overcome the agricultural water shortage problem.
Al Moalla, who gained a doctorate degree in Plant Production in 1985 from Al Ain University, has dedicated his career to developing agriculture in the UAE.
He has served on various important positions in the Ministry for the last 16 years and now is Director of the Central Agricultural Zone – the second biggest zone in the UAE after Abu Dhabi.
Two other agricultural zones are in Ras Al Khaimah and Fujairah.
What should be done to cope with the problem of irrigation water shortage?
Some seven per cent of the farms have become desert due to salinity and water shortage in the region. Desalinated water is the best solution to overcome water shortage for irrigation.
Seawater should be desalinated and provided to farms through pipelines. Water meters should be installed at the farms using the piped desalinated water while farmers will pay for the water they use.
This will not only help overcome shortage of water, but farmers will be obliged not to waste any water. Currently, we are studying this proposal and hope to come out with some feasible study.
Secondly, a study is also underway to grow crops with a mixture of desalinated and saline water. It will also help grow crops, minimising the use of precious sweet water.
What modern techniques has the ministry adopted to minimise the use of water?
The ministry has embarked upon various projects to overcome the shortage of water in the central region and to improve the yield of various crops.
In addition to constructing new dams around the country to store water, the ministry was in the process of introducing new agriculture methods to minimise the use of water.
Some of the new techniques we are working on are: protected farming systems in greenhouses, and the drip irrigation system. We are also conducting experiments on vegetables and fruit trees suitable for the local climate which consume minimum water.
What is protected farming and how it would help farmers?
Unlike conventional farming, crops are grown in a greenhouse in a controlled climate with minimum use of water and pesticides. Farmers are being trained for protected farming as they can grow a larger quantity of vegetables in smaller areas with lower costs and less use of water.
They can grow cucumber, tomatoes, lettuce, eggplant, watermelons and sweet melons in the protected farming system by using modern techniques of drip irrigation system. Given the water resources, the future of agriculture in the UAE lies in the protected farming system.
Are you also suggesting alternative crops for farmers to minimise use of water?
Due to reducing water levels and salinity, the ministry is also suggesting to farmers to grow more date palm trees, which suit UAE conditions, instead of growing other fruit trees.
We are also experimenting growing indigenous plants from the desert to replace the current forage crop which consumes a lot of water. Some four different kinds of wild plants chosen from the desert are being cultivated at the ministry's research centre in Al Dhaid.
The major crop in the region, however, is the date palm tree. There are about 2.8 million date palm trees in the area. Some 978,000 are productive while 1.8 million are so far non-productive mainly because they are under-age.
Animal fodder is grown on an area of about 30,621 Donums (one Donum is equal to 1000 sq metres), while vegetables are grown on an area of 24,000 Donums.
Are you also providing training to farmers on the new agriculture techniques?
Agricultural engineers at the ministry's experimental centre in Al Dhaid are always busy doing experiments to improve the quality of the local crops.
They invite farmers to their centres and advise them about new techniques to increase both the quality and quantity of their crops. They also teach them how to use modern techniques and what steps should be taken to control crop diseases.
We also provide farmers with pesticides, fertilisers, seeds, selected plants in addition to helping them adopt methods for protected farming. The ministry also provides farmers with various other facilities such as spray machines and pumps at 50 per cent discount.
Tractors are provided free of cost to plough their fields. The ministry's experts develop an irrigation system for farmers to suit their fields and crops. Irrigation equipment is provided at subsidised rates by the ministry
What is the Hydroponics system being experimented on at Al Dhaid Experimental Station of the Ministry?
Hydroponics is a method of cultivating plants by growing them in gravel with the use of water only and without using any soil. The system can overcome problems of water shortage and at the same time increase production.
Farmers using this system can get early and high quality and quantity production with low water consumption, reduce labour costs, effectively control diseases and insects, limit the use of chemicals and fertilisers and above all can grow out of season crops at any time of the year in the controlled climate of the greenhouse.
Currently, this is under experimentation at the centre and the farmers are invited to learn about the system. Though initially it will be a bit costly, in the long run it will prove much cheaper than the traditional agricultural system.
What is the role of consumers in the agriculture sector?
I would urge the people to preferably buy locally produced vegetables to encourage our farmers. People should not hesitate to buy locally produced vegetables and fruit only because they have the option of buying imported ones.
Our vegetables and fruits available in the market are much better than imported ones because they are fresh and grown with minimum use of pesticides. Our products are much safer to consume because the ministry never allows sale of contaminated products in the market.
