ADFCA's Water Conservation Initiatives Showcased at International Water Summit
Abu Dhabi Food Control Authority (ADFCA) is participating at the International Water Summit 2013, which was inaugurated today in the capital. The Authority has showcased during the event its initiatives for conserving the emirate's water resources through the modernization of irrigation practices in the farms across the emirate.
Mohamed Jalal Al Reyaysa, Director of Communication and Community Services at ADFCA, said on the sidelines of the summit that the Authority was presenting to the participants the details of its various initiatives to reduce the consumption of water for irrigation and other farming operations. "We are encouraging the use of modern technology in irrigation to optimize the use of water. We are also encouraging the farmers to choose less water intensive crops that are more suitable for the arid climate of the UAE. Water conservation is a major component of our sustainability drive for the farming sector," he explained.
Al Reyaysa said the conservation of water resources was integral to achieving long term food security. "Sustainable farming and food security are very much interconnected. We aim to reduce the use of water in farming by 40% at the end of this year. The banning of the cultivation of Rhodes grass, which was the highest consumer of water, was a significant move to that end. Along with that, we are also trying to reduce water for irrigating date palms, which are considered the second largest consumer of water in farming," he concluded.
