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About 4,000 agricultural farms to get treated water

Abu Dhabi - Initiative will help increase cultivated areas and enhance the sustainability of agricultural sector.

About 4,000 agricultural farms in Abu Dhabi will get treated water by the end of 2021, which will help increase cultivated areas and enhance the sustainability of the agricultural sector, authorities have said.

The Abu Dhabi Agriculture and Food Safety Authority (Adafsa) said in addition to delivering water to these farms in various areas of the emirate, it was also working on a raft of other projects related to calculating the water quantity used in different types of crops.

“We are working on implementing many projects and initiatives in coordination with strategic partners to raise the efficiency of water use in agriculture and reduce environmental impacts resulting from misuse of water,” said Adafsa officials, adding that they were keen on managing water resources in an integrated manner.

The officials have also emphasised the importance of conserving water resources by ensuring their optimal utilisation.

“Farmers should avoid wrong practices that exacerbate the problem of wasting water and depleting resources,” said officials.

Dr Abdullah Belhaif Al Nuaimi, UAE Minister of Climate Change and Environment, said in January this year that climate change will not only aggravate the situation in currently water-stressed regions, but also generate water stress even in some of those regions that have sufficient water resources today.

“To address water stress, the UAE is following an integrated water management approach. We have adopted the UAE Water Security Strategy 2036 that aims to ensure continued and sustainable access to water,” he pointed out.

“We are also implementing initiatives to reduce water losses and consumption. In addition to the introduction of green building and product standards, building retrofit initiatives, and water tariff reform, government authorities have been running awareness campaigns to promote behavioral change among consumers.”

ismail@khaleejtimes.com