Large-scale agriculture poses many challenges for this region. Given the harsh climate and the enormous amount of water required to maintain significant production, Gulf countries have resorted to importing the vast majority of their food stock. But there may be a benefit to thinking small when it comes to crops, by encouraging smallholdings and allotments in urban spaces.
As The National reported yesterday, staff at the Dubai Electricity and Water Authority’s (Dewa) building in Al Quoz have started an urban farming project. Taking advantage of their roof space, the staff have cultivated a 2,500-square-metre garden. The “farm” features a 300-square-metre vegetable plot that has more than 400 plants. A recent crop production cycle yielded 200 cauliflowers and the same number of cabbages – not enough to stock a supermarket, but ample enough to sell locally.
The garden also produces the fringe benefit of lowering the host building’s electricity bill, by significantly cooling the roof area and lowering the indoor temperature and reducing the need for air conditioning. The Dewa gardeners keep a close eye on water consumption in an effort to farm sustainably.
From conflict zones like Gaza City to mega cities in India, small allotments provide respite from the chaos of urban life while entrenching a sense of independence and community. In recent years, this model of urban agriculture has gained popularity around the world, empowering individuals and communities. Advances in technology have also helped make urban farming easier.
There is no doubt that urban farming poses a number of specific challenges for our region, not the least of which are the high average temperature and the scarcity of water. But there is an opportunity to take the idea of urban farming off the rooftop and into the side street, using small plots on empty lots. Clearly, this would need approval from the authorities and would need to be properly managed, but small allotment spaces could be developed to produce local food and foster a greater sense of community.
