Wheat fields in the Emirates…green oases that embody the power of will to conquer the challenges of the desert

Despite the climate challenges imposed by the desert nature of the UAE, the national strategies and thoughtful plans adopted by the wise leadership since its establishment were able to redraw the environmental map, which resulted in the spread of large areas of green land, relying on the sincere will of the people of the Emirates to adopt sustainable agricultural initiatives and increase the number of Farms that produce various types of crops, using the latest smart agricultural technologies to achieve optimal investment of agricultural land while ensuring the quality of the local product and enhancing its ability to compete.

These efforts were not directed only towards planting desert lands with local trees, but many institutional and individual initiatives resorted to strategic agriculture, especially wheat, which achieved remarkable successes in production over the past years, in addition to spreading hundreds of hectares of green spaces in the middle of the desert.

An important tributary
Wheat cultivation in the UAE is an important strategic tributary of the food security system, and reaching the level of self-sufficiency. The state has encouraged it through institutions and entities concerned with the agricultural sector by employing capabilities and resources to provide safe organic and food crops, in addition to adopting the best effective agricultural methods in the field of production. Different types of high quality grains.

The Most Beautiful Winter in the World campaign, in its fifth edition, which was launched under the slogan “Green Tourism”, in cooperation between the Ministry of Economy, the National Agricultural Center, and local tourism authorities in the country, pays great attention to highlighting successful sustainable agricultural experiences, with the aim of stimulating sustainable tourist visits, in The framework of the domestic tourism strategy in the UAE launched by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, “may God protect him”, aiming to develop an integrated tourism system at the state level.



Emirates wheat
Through individual voluntary effort, the nucleus of which was 16 citizen farmers; The “Emirates Wheat” initiative was launched in 2017, which is one of the leading initiatives in the field of agriculture. It then spread throughout the country with many farms joining the successful initiative until the number of participating farms reached more than 200 farms that produce more than 80 tons of wheat annually. With the interest of those in charge and participants in the initiative to expand the area of ​​wheat farms and encourage it by distributing wheat grains for free to farmers who wish to experiment with guaranteed results, and providing wheat harvesting machines in various emirates of the country in order to facilitate Farmers, and helping them harvest grains quickly and healthily, to contribute to achieving self-sufficiency in the country, and to produce crops that contribute to increasing agricultural production in the country, as well as organizing periodic meetings to exchange experiences and guidance, and to learn about the most prominent goals in order to reach the best methods and methods that increase production. Wheat.



Wheat farm in Mellieha

Starting from March 2022, the Emirate of Sharjah began a wheat cultivation project in the Maliha region, over an area extending to 1,400 hectares, in order to produce the largest quantity of wheat and meet the needs of the market. The seeds of the first phase were sown at the end of November 2022, and were harvested after 4 months to produce Sharjah is one of the finest types of wheat in the world, because it contains the highest percentage of protein, and is free of any chemicals, fertilizers, or other substances harmful to human health.

In order to spread the initiative widely among farmers, the Department of Agriculture and Livestock in Sharjah launched the initiative to distribute authentic wheat seeds to citizen farmers. With the aim of supporting the cultivation of strategic commodities in the country, approximately 3 tons of seeds of bread wheat variety (Yukura Rojo), which is considered one of the most important and finest red wheat varieties characterized by high purity, short germination period, and freedom from fungal diseases, were distributed. The seed distribution initiative was also accompanied by educational campaigns. Awareness of farmers about the best international practices applied in optimal cultivation methods for wheat seeds. To ensure the production of the best crops.



Quality achievements
In honor of the qualitative achievements increasingly achieved by the Mleiha Wheat Farm Project, the project received the Future Readiness Mark, which is awarded to federal and local institutions that design and implement exceptional projects, as the project aims to produce 15,200 tons of high-quality organic wheat, which covers 100% of the needs of sales outlets. Wheat is produced in retail in the emirate, as it is grown without the use of any chemicals.

Research efforts were also launched in the project laboratories aimed at developing a new strain of wheat called the “Sharjah-1” strain, which is more tolerant to climate and temperature changes, less consuming and saving water by 30%, more productive and richer in nutritional value and contains 19% of protein, which is the highest in the world and the fastest in maturity and harvest. The project also launched the wheat brand “Seven Snapels” to meet the demand in the local market and raise the production ceiling by expanding the cultivated area of ​​wheat. It reached 1,900 hectares, and 285 tons of wheat seeds were grown there. The system was also expanded to include national agricultural entrepreneurship to enable citizens’ capabilities to participate in raising the production ceiling, as 15 tons of wheat seeds were planted by 320 farmers.

In addition, “Seven Sanabel” flour obtained five certificates, accredited for quality and safety. Among them: the “HACP” certificate for meeting the conditions for safe and clean agriculture, the “organic” certificate for implementing the requirements of organic agriculture, and the “NON GMO” certificate; It is a recognition of not using genetically modified seeds, as well as the first national product to obtain the “Made in the Emirates” mark, as it meets quality and safety standards and conforms to the standard specifications in force in the UAE, which enhances consumer confidence and supports its competitiveness in the markets.



Resource rationalization
In parallel with the increasing production of wheat farms in the country, those responsible for it were keen to implement a modern irrigation system that relies entirely on automation using space data from satellites. The wheat farm in Sharjah includes an irrigation water collection station with high technical specifications that feeds the irrigation lines mainly through 6 pumps. Large withdrawals with a capacity of up to 60,000 cubic meters of water throughout the day. Water is transported from the Hamda station on a 13-kilometre-long conveyor line all the way to the farm. The irrigation process is also based on the use of modern technologies such as artificial intelligence. In developing and controlling the process by transmitting weather and soil information to the main center for agricultural operations; To adjust and regulate the rate of water consumption.

Artificial intelligence was employed in this project through the use of physical technology, which consisted of placing sensors in the soil linked to a meteorological station and a control room that indicated the adequacy of irrigation. By following these technologies, 40% to 45% of the water needed for agriculture was saved. Thermal imaging and sensing technology was also used. Remotely via satellites that provide daily information on soil condition and plant health.