Organic farming is progressing at pace in the UAE, with two outlets showing just what can be achieved.
Greenheart Organic Farms began life in Dubai six years ago, and has increased production from half a tonne a month to 7-8 tonnes a week in that time.
Now it creates its own soil, has three wells providing irrigation and uses only heirloom seeds – meaning those which have been harvested from its own crops - to ensure the pedigree of its produce.
The frantic use of industrial farming methods and the spread of chemicals to enhance the size and shape of vegetables has become an inducement to source truly organic produce says Elena Kinane, Greenheart's founder.
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Similarly, Organic Oasis is a farm that began only five years ago.
It started with eight beds – one bed is 400 sq m - and two greenhouses, but now it has 52 beds and 14 greenhouses with a string of commercial clients.
It produces over 30 different vegetables, including tomatoes, cucumbers and capsicums.
This year saw a record producing 5500kg of watermelons from just one bed.
Company Profile
Name: HyveGeo
Started: 2023
Founders: Abdulaziz bin Redha, Dr Samsurin Welch, Eva Morales and Dr Harjit Singh
Based: Cambridge and Dubai
Number of employees: 8
Industry: Sustainability & Environment
Funding: $200,000 plus undisclosed grant
Investors: Venture capital and government
A QUIET PLACE
Starring: Lupita Nyong'o, Joseph Quinn, Djimon Hounsou
Director: Michael Sarnoski
Rating: 4/5
Can NRIs vote in the election?
Indians residing overseas cannot cast their ballot abroad
Non-resident Indians or NRIs can vote only by going to a polling booth in their home constituency
There are about 3.1 million NRIs living overseas
Indians have urged political parties to extend the right to vote to citizens residing overseas
A committee of the Election Commission of India approved of proxy voting for non-resident Indians
Proxy voting means that a person can authorise someone residing in the same polling booth area to cast a vote on his behalf.
This option is currently available for the armed forces, police and government officials posted outside India
A bill was passed in the lower house of India’s parliament or the Lok Sabha to extend proxy voting to non-resident Indians
However, this did not come before the upper house or Rajya Sabha and has lapsed
The issue of NRI voting draws a huge amount of interest in India and overseas
Over the past few months, Indians have received messages on mobile phones and on social media claiming that NRIs can cast their votes online
The Election Commission of India then clarified that NRIs could not vote online
The Election Commission lodged a complaint with the Delhi Police asking it to clamp down on the people spreading misinformation
SUZUME
Director: Makoto Shinkai
Stars: Nanoka Hara, Hokuto Matsumura, Eri Fukatsu
Rating: 4/5
