Under the patronage of Sheikha Fatima.."Climate change and environment" Launch an initiative "Empowering women farmers"

Al Ain, April 27 / WAM / Under the patronage of Her Highness Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak, “Mother of the Emirates”, President of the General Women’s Union, President of the Supreme Council for Motherhood and Childhood, Supreme Chairwoman of the Family Development Foundation, and within the framework of the “Year of the Family”, the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment launched the “Empowering Women Farmers” initiative, with the aim of enhancing the participation of Emirati women in the process of sustainable national food security.

This came during the “First Emirati Women Farmers Forum,” which was held on the sidelines of the “Emirati Agricultural Conference and Exhibition,” which concluded yesterday in Al Ain under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice President of the UAE, Deputy Prime Minister, and Head of the Presidential Office.

Her Highness Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak, “Mother of the Emirates”, President of the General Women’s Union, President of the Supreme Council for Motherhood and Childhood, and Supreme Chairwoman of the Family Development Foundation, praised the tireless national efforts to establish agriculture as one of the components of the national economy and enhance sustainable food security in the UAE, which provides Emirati women with promising opportunities to participate in the agricultural sector, which has become more advanced due to science and technology techniques.

Her Highness said that agriculture is a national heritage in our country, and Emirati women represent one of its pillars, and with our support we will make them more capable of consolidating it by spreading the culture of agriculture among all members of society, and helping them develop agricultural businesses by providing them with the components and skills and providing them with all means of empowerment through innovative solutions, stressing that the initiative constitutes an integrated and necessary system to enhance the role of female farmers in this vital sector, which places us before an exceptional experience that establishes the UAE’s position as a global model for the comprehensive agricultural empowerment of women. And economically.

The “Empowering Women Farmers” initiative is a pioneering national project that embodies the strategic vision of the UAE in transforming the role of women from a contributor to agricultural production to a pioneering partner and a primary driver of innovation in this vital sector.

The initiative is based on the methodology of practical empowerment by providing field tools and direct dialogue platforms with decision-makers, which aim in their entirety to overcome challenges and open broad horizons for developing women-led farms and transforming them into successful economic models.

The initiative seeks to consolidate the position of the Emirati farmer as an innovation leader capable of building her own brand and competing in the markets, with a focus on integrating modern technologies and climate-smart solutions to ensure the sustainability of resources and double the added value of the national product.

During her speech at the forum, Her Excellency Dr. Amna bint Abdullah Al-Dahhak, Minister of Climate Change and Environment, stressed that the launch of the “Empowering Women Farmers” initiative under the patronage of Her Highness Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak, “Mother of the Emirates,” represents a cornerstone in the country’s strategy to enhance national food sovereignty, stressing that empowering the daughter of the Emirates in this field reflects her ability to support the agricultural sector and transfer agricultural knowledge to future generations.”

Her Excellency said that the agricultural sector in the country today represents an advanced economic engine that opens unprecedented horizons for women’s entrepreneurship, noting that the Emirati farmer is capable of making a qualitative shift in productivity, which the initiative seeks to translate into a tangible reality by transforming traditional farms into sustainable economic projects that enhance the competitiveness of the national product in the markets.

Her Excellency added that the initiative provides an integrated practical support system starting from field schools to develop field skills, all the way to providing marketing platforms and involving young women’s competencies in decision-making through the Emirates Youth Council for Agriculture, stressing the Ministry’s commitment to overcoming all challenges and providing the capabilities that make Emirati women pioneers of innovation leading the future of sustainable national food security.

The launch of the Women Farmer Empowerment Initiative reflects the UAE’s strategic vision in empowering women farmers as a pivotal partner in the innovation and food sovereignty system, and not just as food producers.

This movement aims to provide a qualitative interactive platform that combines appreciation and field empowerment, ensuring the strengthening of Emirati women’s contribution to the green economy and the path of sustainable development.

This national movement coincides with the global trends led by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), specifically with the declaration of 2026 as the ‘International Year of Women Farmers’, which reflects the launch of the UAE’s leadership in anticipating these international paths.

The Emirati Women Farmers Forum witnessed an exceptional presence led by Sheikha Dr. Shamma bint Mohammed bin Khalid Al Nahyan, Chairwoman of the Board of Directors of the Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalid Al Nahyan Cultural and Educational Institutions, and Her Excellency Sana bint Mohammed Suhail, Minister of Family and an elite group of prominent women leaders, along with more than 200 Emirati women farmers and entrepreneurs in the agricultural sector.

The forum included discussion sessions and in-depth interactive dialogues, focused on exploring the promising opportunities and field challenges facing women in this vital sector. Innovative solutions were reviewed aimed at overcoming technical and operational obstacles, ensuring that women farmers are empowered with the tools for success and transforming their farms into pioneering projects that contribute effectively to the food security system by increasing production and improving quality.

The dialogue during the event succeeded in setting preliminary features for a future road map aimed at deepening women’s participation in developing the agricultural sector and increasing their contribution to the agricultural sector.

The participants stressed that this interactive momentum paves the way for a new phase of integrated work between government agencies and women farmers on the ground, to ensure the sustainability of production and enhance agricultural innovation, and to consolidate the position of the daughter of the Emirates as an active and leading element in the comprehensive agricultural renaissance witnessed by the country, in line with the ambitious national visions.

The women leaders and all participants and farmers in the forum extended the highest expressions of thanks, gratitude and gratitude to Her Highness Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak, “Mother of the Emirates”, in appreciation of her support and care, which represents the true umbrella for the process of comprehensive empowerment of Emirati women.

They agreed that the exceptional attention paid by Her Highness to the involvement of women in the agricultural sector gives Emirati female farmers a strategic and moral motivation to continue giving and innovation, and they pledged to the country’s leadership to always remain up to the level of trust and active partners in consolidating the national food security system and sustaining its resources for future generations.

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