Agriculture in the Uae Essay

Agriculture in the UAE Lying in the heart of the worlds arid zone, the UAE has midget rainfall and one would expect it to be a barren place. Barren places thither certainly are, but the process of desertification has very largely been arrested in the country. It is straightaway possible to see forests, fields of grass and wheat whither once thither were only desert sands and winds. The UAE has a long tradition of agriculture in its oases where crops have been germinaten for 5000 years.Underground pee was chandelled to palm tree groves and small fields and the technique is still used today. Since the formation of the UAE in 1971, this small scale handed-down farming has been complemented by investment that has seen thousands of hectares being cultivated. In the past 25 years, the countrys existence has increased ten-fold and agricultural production has kept pace with this growth. The country is self-sufficient in salad crops and poultry for lots of the year and even exports c rops to markets in Europe.Most of the UAEs agricultural production comes from four areas from in and just about Al Ain, from a narrow but fertile strip along the eastern hemisphere coast, from the oasis of Dhaid east of Sharjah and from the gravel plains in Ras al Khaimah. According to figures from the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, agricultural production stands at oer Dh 2 billion per year. An average crop season yields over 600,000 tons of crops such as tomatoes, cucumbers, aubergines, lettuce, fleece and animal feed.Studies have shown that much of the countrys soil can be cultivated provided there is water and as a result, there has been an extensive broadcast to drill water wells. The governing exit prepare land for local farmers which they are then given free along with seeds, machinery and advice on pest control. There is also government-funded research on different crops to see how they adapt to the local climate.In an exploit to conserve and use as much water as possible in as umteen ways as possible, the government has embarked on a three-part programme designed to make the most positive use of this scarce resource. First, farmers are given advice on how to reduce their consumption of water, mainly through drip irrigation. Desalinated water as well as recycled and purified sewage effluent is used. Second, with the help of the United States Geological Survey, the government is searching for ew aquifers and monitoring current rates of extraction. Third and last, to prevent the waste of valuable rainwater, keeping dams have been constructed in many areas. These store the water until it can be used for irrigation. Tens of millions of gallons of rainwater are being retained by the dams already built throughout the Emirates. In the long run, of course, it is realized that desalinated water will provide the bulk of agricultural water. There is more to agriculture than simply growing crops. ane area that has seen dramatic growth is the kee ping of poultry for meat and eggs. The same is true of dairy products. Herds of trade cattle have adapted to the climate and are now producing milk, cheese and yogurt for the local market. The armorial bearing of trees and gardens in the UAE is always noticed and commented upon by visitors. Over 10 million trees have been planted increase more than 18 million palm trees. In all the cities and towns of the UAE, there have been beautification campaigns with the creation of set and gardens for the local people.Any householder, even those in flats, can get free plants from the Municipality under a programme that distributes thousands of plants annually. Besides the greening of the cities and towns there has also been a massive programme in the desert and it is here that most of the trees have been planted. Flying over the desert, one now sees great patches of green where formerly there was only sand. All kinds of arid region plants, both local and imported, have been planted and as they grow to maturity, their roots reach down to the natural water supply.When this happens, they will be able to survive with little care and attention. The face of the land and the environment too have been changed. Wildlife flourishes as do native plants and animals. The UAE was never purely and simply a desert. Today it has become a place where greenery can be seen in both urban and rural areas. Twenty years of dedicated commitment have do the point that the process of desertification is reversible. And given time and money, that is exactly what has happened and is continuing to happen.