Abu Dhabi Food Control Authority (ADFCA) has launched an initiative to measure average water consumption at farms in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi. This is to pinpoint the exact consumption of water in the farms as water scarcity and increasing salinity of water are serious issues that confront the country. The initiative will lead to the shaping of programs to optimize the use of water in all farms in the emirate.
Mohamed Abdulla Al Fardan, Acting Director of Communication and Community Service at ADFCA, said ADFCA's strategic plan attached utmost importance to making agriculture sustainable so as to conserve natural resources, especially water used for irrigation. He pointed out that the initiative would benefit agriculture in the emirate.
He pointed out that the measurement of water consumption at farms is done through fixing meters in 200 farms selected as samples from around the emirate. "The farms are classified into three categories in terms of the crops. The first category consists of farms that cultivate vegetables, date palms and fodder while the second only date palms and fodder. The third consist of farms that cultivate only date palms," he explained.
Al Fardan clarified that the initiative would lead to a realistic appreciation of the actual consumption of water at the farms for irrigation purposes. "The findings of the initiative will help us direct the farmers to use only the required amount of water so as to conserve water. The specific water needs of each crop can be identified and irrigation regulated accordingly. Good agricultural practices and the advancement of farming are among the strategic priorities of ADFCA," he added.
