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Farmers’ centre and UAEU to produce sun-dried tomatoes
ABU DHABI - Local sun-dried tomatoes will be available in the shelves of country's supermarkets soon, as the Abu Dhabi Farmers' Services Centre has signed an MoU with the UAE University to produce high-quality sun-dried tomatoes here.
- PUBLISHED: Sun 10 Apr 2011, 12:48 AM UPDATED: Wed 21 Aug 2024, 10:54 AM
The FSC will provide financing and field expertise for the 12-month collaborative project, while the UAE University's Faculty of Food and Agriculture (FFA-EAEU) will supply qualified personnel, equipment and specialist knowledge.
Agricultural production has been steadily increasing in the UAE since the 1980s, with tomatoes being a key crop. According to officials, a good amount of tomatoes are produced in the Western Region along with other vegetables and supplied to the local markets but exact figures could not be obtained.
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Khalifa Ahmed Al Ali, managing director of the FSC, said the centre is making great strides in the development of a sustainable, efficient market-driven agricultural sector. Such initiatives extend the country's farming output to its full potential, as well as bringing farmers a new, potentially lucrative source of income.
The FSC currently operates in the Western Region (Al Gharbia) of Abu Dhabi emirate. “Here, we are working with more than 8,250 farmers.”
The FSC markets good-quality outdoor-grown tomatoes as fresh produce but are seeking to explore the potential of processing surplus produce that do not meet its stringent quality controls.
Al Ali said the sun-drying is a way of enhancing and preserving lower grade crops. The UAE has climate conditions suitable for the development of a sun-drying process. Dehydration (or drying) of fruits is an energy-intensive process that involves slow removal of the majority of the fruit's water to a moisture level that does not allow growth of harmful microbiota (the microorganisms that typically inhabit a bodily organ or part), he said.
The project can potentially maximise the use of agricultural land and increase farmer incomes since it makes use of crops grown in lower-grade conditions.
If successful, the project will add value to the agricultural marketing chain as dried tomato products tend to fetch higher prices than fresh tomatoes, Al Ali said.
“We work with local farmers in Al Gharbia to improve farming practices leading to higher production levels, better quality crops, and greater environmental outcomes. We also work with retailers and large corporate and government customers to provide them with a secure supply of quality produce,” he said.
“Essentially, we provide a full suite of services - from farm to market - and in this way, the FSC is developing sustainable agriculture for Abu Dhabi.”
anwar@khaleejtimes.com