Al Shariqi: Workshop part of the Authority's efforts for Farming Reforms in the emirate

Abu Dhabi, January 31, 2011: Abu Dhabi Food Control Authority held training workshop for their employees on Global Good Agricultural Practices (Global GAP) under the supervision of experts from Global GAP.

The purpose of the workshop was to help the employees implement good agricultural practices as well as to monitor their implementation and check possible violations as per the best international practices. The three-day workshop held at the Hilton Hotel in Abu Dhabi was attended by top officials and around 30 employees from ADFCA and the Farmers' Services Centre.

In his opening remarks at the Workshop, Rashid Mohamed Al Shariqi, Director General of ADFCA, said: "This workshop is very important at this point in time as ADFCA is currently making efforts to strengthen farming in the emirate under the directives of the leadership of Abu Dhabi. ADFCA is trying to bring about substantial changes in the farming sector."

Al Shariqi added that the implementation of Global GAP was among the priorities of the Authority's new initiatives for the farming sector. "We are determined to make sure that the sector achieves maximum sustainability and profitability, while also focusing on the social milieu and environmental protection," he pointed out.

"Most of the countries in the world are currently implementing Global GAP for achieving sustainable development. This is done through improving farming practices in irrigation, fertilization, pesticide, circulation of the produce and the use of chemicals. The objective is to make local produce more competitive and to instill confidence in the consumer about the quality of local produce. This workshop is aimed at equipping the staff at ADFCA and FSC with state of the art knowledge and expertise on Global GAP," Al Shariqi stated, adding that Global GAP is currently being implemented in 100 farms in the emirate as a pilot project to pioneer farming reforms across the emirate.