More than 2 million palm trees in Abu Dhabi have been treated for infestation by pests such as the red palm weevil and stem borer since the beginning of the year.
Abu Dhabi Agriculture and Food Safety Authority (ADAFSA) carried out the work using pheromone and light traps to attract and control pests and limit their spread, state news agency Wam reported. The programme involves treating palms infested with various pests, such as the red palm weevil and stem borer, and removing severely damaged trees.
“ADAFSA implements an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) programme for palm trees, focusing on environmentally safe techniques to minimise pest impact and reduce indiscriminate use of pesticides,” Wam reported.
“ADAFSA has treated over 2 million palm trees, since the beginning of this year, as part of the fight against blight and dust mites under the IPM programme, which has contributed to controlling agricultural pests and reducing pesticide use.
“Specialist teams successfully eradicated thousands of harmful insects, such as the red palm weevil and stem borer, contributing to crop protection and increased productivity.”
There are currently more than 125,000 pheromone traps and more than 21,000 light traps installed across farms in Abu Dhabi. These traps attract pests in an environmentally safe manner, reducing the need for chemical pesticides Wam reported.
In the first half of 2024 alone, these traps attracted nearly half a million pests, including the red palm weevil and stem and frond borers – key threats to palm trees.
The red palm weevil is an insect known to be a significant threat to the region’s vital date palm trees and infestations have caused farmers to suffer financial losses. The treatment of the trees is part of a wider strategy aimed at protecting palm farms from pests and diseases, improving production quality, and encouraging farmers to adopt sustainable agricultural practices.
In addition to the pest control efforts, ADAFSA has launched a series of educational programmes for farmers.
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Jordan cabinet changes
In
- Raed Mozafar Abu Al Saoud, Minister of Water and Irrigation
- Dr Bassam Samir Al Talhouni, Minister of Justice
- Majd Mohamed Shoueikeh, State Minister of Development of Foundation Performance
- Azmi Mahmud Mohafaza, Minister of Education and Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research
- Falah Abdalla Al Ammoush, Minister of Public Works and Housing
- Basma Moussa Ishakat, Minister of Social Development
- Dr Ghazi Monawar Al Zein, Minister of Health
- Ibrahim Sobhi Alshahahede, Minister of Agriculture and Minister of Environment
- Dr Mohamed Suleiman Aburamman, Minister of Culture and Minister of Youth
Out
- Dr Adel Issa Al Tawissi, Minister of High Education and Scientific Research
- Hala Noaman “Basiso Lattouf”, Minister of Social Development
- Dr Mahmud Yassin Al Sheyab, Minister of Health
- Yahya Moussa Kasbi, Minister of Public Works and Housing
- Nayef Hamidi Al Fayez, Minister of Environment
- Majd Mohamed Shoueika, Minister of Public Sector Development
- Khalid Moussa Al Huneifat, Minister of Agriculture
- Dr Awad Abu Jarad Al Mushakiba, Minister of Justice
- Mounir Moussa Ouwais, Minister of Water and Agriculture
- Dr Azmi Mahmud Mohafaza, Minister of Education
- Mokarram Mustafa Al Kaysi, Minister of Youth
- Basma Mohamed Al Nousour, Minister of Culture
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Terror attacks in Paris, November 13, 2015
- At 9.16pm, three suicide attackers killed one person outside the Atade de France during a foootball match between France and Germany
- At 9.25pm, three attackers opened fire on restaurants and cafes over 20 minutes, killing 39 people
- Shortly after 9.40pm, three other attackers launched a three-hour raid on the Bataclan, in which 1,500 people had gathered to watch a rock concert. In total, 90 people were killed
- Salah Abdeslam, the only survivor of the terrorists, did not directly participate in the attacks, thought to be due to a technical glitch in his suicide vest
- He fled to Belgium and was involved in attacks on Brussels in March 2016. He is serving a life sentence in France
