Agriculture uses over half of Abu Dhabi’s water

Of the 56 per cent of water that is used for agriculture purposes, excessive irrigation, improper irrigation systems and other ineffective practices led to wastage.

Just over half of Abu Dhabi’s water consumption is used for agriculture, with wastage accounting for a noticeable portion, said the managing director of the Abu Dhabi Centre for Food Security.

Of the 56 per cent of water that is used for agriculture purposes, said Khalifa Al Ali, excessive irrigation, improper irrigation systems and other ineffective practices led to wastage, Al Ittihad, the Arabic-language sister paper of The National reported.

Mr Al Ali said the centre supported the use of modern farming methods and techniques to achieve sustainability to ensure food security throughout the emirate. He said efficient water usage was vital to ensure sustainability of its sources.

Mr Al Ali said that greenhouses helped to prolong agricultural production in the summer. By compensating for the shortfall in production of food during the hotter months, he said, greenhouses supported the country’s food security strategy by raising the level of agricultural production. This in turn also addressed problems that arose when seasonal shortages pushed prices up.