Sharjah Ruler inaugurates wheat farm project

Sheikh Dr Sultan promises financial help for farmers in the emirate

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  Dr Sheikh Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Ruler of Sharjah and member of the Supreme Council, inaugurated a wheat farm project in Mleiha in the emirate on Thursday. All photos: Wam

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  The campaign aims to encourage more farmers to turn their hand to growing wheat crops.

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  Sheikh Dr Sultan spoke of a long history of growing crops in Sharjah.

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  He highlighted the success story of recent experiments to cultivate wheat in Mleiha.

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  Sharjah government will help farmers financially, especially with the provision of pasture.

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  Production will be free of all pesticides and toxins.

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  Sheikh Dr Sultan signed three decrees approving the establishment of associations for livestock breeders, vegetable growers and wheat farmers.

Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Ruler of Sharjah, has opened a wheat farm project in Mleiha.

The initiative aims to encourage more farmers to turn their hand to growing the crop, state news agency Wam reported on Thursday.

Sheikh Dr Sultan said there was a long history of growing crops in Sharjah and recent experiments of cultivating wheat in Mleiha had been successful.

He said the Sharjah government would support farmers financially, with the provision of pasture and also in scientific research to preserve the local varieties.

Sharjah’s production would also be free of all types of pesticides and toxins.

Sheikh Dr Sultan also briefed on the most prominent types of wheat that have been tested, from Arab and Asian regions, in addition to local wheat crops.

During the ceremony, Sheikh Dr Sultan signed three decrees approving the establishment of associations for livestock breeders, vegetable and wheat farmers.

On the same day, Sheikh Dr Sultan also opened the Al Nozha Pasture centre in Al Madam.

It spans nine million square metres and will provide many farms in the region.

The move comes as the UAE bolsters its food security by producing more food, from oysters to lettuce, in the country.

The UAE's only berry farm – in pictures

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  A picker holds blueberries at Al Foah Farm in Al Ain. All photos unless otherwise stated: Khushnum Bhandari / The National

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  Huge greenhouses kitted out with water-based cooling systems house thousands of plants and bushes where the berries are in full bloom throughout their season.

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  Bumble bees imported from Europe help to pollinate thousands of berry bushes at Elite Agro’s Al Foah Farm.

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  Abdul Fattah, farm manager at Al Foah.

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  A worker picking berries.

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  Crates of blueberries packaged for sale.

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  The farm has 20 greenhouses for growing blueberries.

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  Raspberries grown by Elite Argo in a greenhouse at Al Foah Farm.

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  Worker weighing and packing the blueberries at Al Foah Farm in Al Ain.

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  Ian Summerfield, chief executive of Elite Agro at the farm in Al Ain.

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  Blueberries being grown in Elite Agro's greenhouse in Al Ain. Photo: Elite Agro