Under the Patronage of Nahayan Mabarak Al Nahayan

Opening of Nominations for the "Outstanding and Innovative Farmers Award", 1st Session 2018 in the United Arab Emirates

- Prof. Abdelouahhab Zaid: "The Award contributes to enhancement of the quality of  Emirati dates."

- Mr. Mohamad Ghanem Al Mansouri: "The Award is for encouraging the farmers to cultivate the best date varieties in the UAE."

Under the guidance and patronage of H.H Sheikh Nahayan Mabarak Al Nahayan, Minister of Culture and Knowledge Development, and President of the Board of Trustees of Khalifa International Award for Date Palm and Agricultural Innovation, the Secretariat General of the Award announced the opening of nominations for the 1st Session 2018 of the "Outstanding Farmer and Innovative Farmer Award" in the United Arab Emirates. Nominations are open from June 15th till July 15th, 2017. The opportunity is open for all farmers who produce dates at the level of the United Arab Emirates and are registered with Al Foah Company to win one of the Award's five categories, namely: the "Outstanding Farmer Award" for the small farm category, medium farm category, above-medium category and large farm category and the "Innovative Farmer Award". This Award will be a national platform for appreciating and honoring the Emirati nationals who have made significant contributions to the date palm sector in particular.

The above is quoted from a morning press conference held on Wednesday, May 24th 2017, by Prof. Abdelouahhab Zaid, Secretary General of Khalifa International Award for Date Palm and Agricultural Innovation at the Emirates Palace, and attended by Prof. Hilal Hamid Said Alkaabi, Member of the Board of Trustees of the Award and Mr. Mohamad Ghanem Al Mansouri, acting CEO of Al Foah Company.

The Secretary General pointed out that 10 years of success and leadership was achieved by the Khalifa International Award for Date Palm and Agricultural Innovation (2007-2017) in the field, thanks to the patronage of H.H Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE (God protects him), the support of H.H Sheikh Mohamad Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, the guidance of H.H Sheikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs, and the follow-up of H.H Sheikh Nahayan Mabarak Al Nahayan, Minister of Culture and Knowledge Development and President of the Board of Trustees of Khalifa International Award for Date Palm and Agricultural Innovation. Following this, the Award is honored to launch, and for the first time, the "Outstanding Farmer and Innovative Farmer Award" in collaboration with Al Foah Company. This Award targets the farmers who produce dates at the level of the United Arab Emirates and are registered with Al Foah Company, and is a platform for appreciating and honoring the Emirati nationals who have made significant contributions to the date palm sector.

About the objectives of the Award, Prof. Hilal Hamid Said Alkaabi, the Administrative and Financial Officer of the Award, says that it aims at encouraging the farmers to cultivate the best date varieties, instilling the values and culture of quality and distinction among date palm farmers in the UAE, creating a favorable, motivating environment for creativity and innovation in the field of date palms, and enhancement of their quality.

Mr. Mohamad Ghanem Al Mansouri, acting CEO of Al Foah Company, also expressed his pleasure at launching the "Outstanding Farmer and Innovative Farmer Award" at the UAE level due to having targeted, and for the first time, the farmers who produce dates and are registered with Al Foah Co. in the UAE.

With respect to the Award's categories, Mohamad Ghanem Al Mansouri says that the Award is divided into two parts:

1. The "Outstanding Farmer Award" is granted to the farmer who obtains the highest evaluation rate as far as the commercial varieties, quality and best agricultural practices of the farm are concerned and according to the farm categories. "The Outstanding Farmer Award" includes four categories, namely:

- Small farm category (production delivered to Al Foah Co. is less than 2.5 Tons).

- Medium farm category (production delivered to Al Foah Co. is 2.5-6 Tons)

- Above-Medium farm category (production delivered to Al Foah Co. is 6-10 Tons)

- Large farm category (production delivered to Al Foah Co. is over 10 Tons)

The first winner of each category will get a prize of AED 125,000, a trophy and appreciation certificate and the second winner will get a prize of AED 75,000 with a trophy and appreciation certificate.

2. The "Innovative Framer Award" of the UAE, is for the best innovation by a farmer which positively affects the farm in the form of increased productivity, improvement of date quality, resolving a technical problem, savings in irrigation water, pest control, environmental protection, etc. There are two winners in two different areas and the prize is AED 100,000 for each.

Regarding the importance of the Award, Al Mansouri adds that it helps motivate the farmers to apply the best agricultural practices and services which are eco-friendly and good for the public health. It also motivates them to apply the results of the research, studies and knowledge in the field of date palms at the farms, as well as celebrating and honoring the winners in recognition of their efforts which promote the sustainable development of date palm plantations at the UAE's level.