Literature Review
Many researchers have conducted their studies on agricultural practices in the gulf region, including the UAE. According to Al Qaydi & Arthur (2008), Abu Dhabi is one of the seven emirates in the United Arab Emirates, which is known for its sustainable agricultural practices in the country. Although agriculture has not been the main economic activity in the gulf region, contemporary food security trends have influenced most Arab countries, including the UAE, to practice agriculture and farming (Behnassi, Pollmann, & Kissinger, 2013).
Importantly, Al Qaydi & Arthur (2008) note that the UAE government offers both financial and labor support to farmers in order to promote agriculture in the country. Many researches have been done on soil taxonomy in the UAE, with the invention of a non-absorbent type of soil that was one of the breakthroughs that have greatly influenced agriculture in Abu Dhabi (Shahid, Abdelfattah, Wilson, Kelley, & Chiaretti, 2014; Oxford Business Group, 2010).
Nevertheless, agriculture and farming in Abu Dhabi have witnessed growth in recent years, thus having enhanced food security in the country despite climatic challenges and water shortage (Global Forum for Innovations in Agriculture 2014 – Abu Dhabi, 2014). The paper provides a review of literature about farming in Abu Dhabi, including its importance, land coverage, water sources, cost of farming, types of harvests, and type of soil.
What is the Importance of farming in Abu Dhabi
Various researchers have highlighted the importance of farming in Abu Dhabi. According to Al Qaydi & Arthur (2008), agriculture is one of the main sources of income in Abu Dhabi, with main exports being fruits, wheat, dates, and other exotic food crops. Apart from agriculture, United Arab Emirate citizens also practice livestock farming and fishery (Al Qaydi & Arthur, 2008). This increases the amount of food production for local consumption, thus boosting food security in the emirate.
According to Statistics Centre − Abu Dhabi (2012), tree farming has been practiced in the region for some time with the aim of offering protection against sandstorms and creating favorable climatic conditions. These trees also house different breeds of birds and invertebrates, which in turn create a tourist attraction for the country. The main tree species in Abu Dhabi are different types of palm trees, making the city to be the largest date producer and processor in the world (Statistics Centre − Abu Dhabi, 2012). Indeed, the UAE is globally popular for producing high-quality dates.
Amount of Land Covered By Farming
Behnassi, Pollmann, & Kissinger (2013), in their book titled “Sustainable Food Security in the Era of Local and Global Environmental Change,” have established that approximately 5.44% of land in Abu Dhabi was utilized for agricultural purposes. However, a big portion of fertile land is yet to be used for cultivation. On average, the largest portion of land has been used up in planting date palm trees. The remaining land is utilized for plantations used for wheat and livestock farming (Behnassi, Pollmann, & Kissinger, 2013). However, the government of the UAE and investors are encouraged to use more land in agriculture due to its good economic value.
Sources and Amount of Water Required for Farming.
Water usage in Abu Dhabi is another issue where most researchers have concentrated in. As noted by Jiménez & Asano (2008), the UAE lies in an arid area; thus, it lacks adequate water for agriculture and consumption. Surprisingly, agriculture in Abu Dhabi consumes over 58% of the total volume of water available in the emirate (Mohamed, 2006), thus putting pressure on the government to seek alternative sources of water (Jiménez & Asano, 2008). Generally, water usage in Abu Dhabi is divided into three classes, including private households, agriculture, and industries (Negewo, 2012).
Due to water shortage, the government has taken precautions by introducing new and efficient irrigation practices (Jiménez & Asano, 2008). A good example is drip irrigation, which requires less water as compared to other irrigation schemes that were used in the past. Verner (2012) notes that the government has also advised farmers against planting crops that require plenty of water; instead, they should have focused on crop species that are salt and drought tolerant. This has greatly reduced the amount of water used in farming. Sewage treatment services have been introduced, with the retreated or recycled water used in irrigation and agriculture (Free flow: Reaching Water Security through Cooperation, 2013).
Abu Dhabi also depends on underground water for farming (United Nations, 2001). One important aspect worth noting is that the government has ensured that water is distributed to farmers freely. Thus, farmers can use as much water as required without worrying about costs. Moreover, with the invention of hydrophobic sand produced in Al Ain (Wangnick, 2002), farmers are able to save a considerable amount of water. This non-absorbent soil retains water, thus reducing wastage through percolation to the underground in irrigation schemes. Farmers who do not use hydrophobic soils grow their products in greenhouses where conditions are controlled or shielded from the scorching weather conditions of the UAE.
Major Harvests in Abu Dhabi
Dates and palm trees have been the mainstay agricultural produce in Abu Dhabi for many years. However, the emirate has shifted to modern farming by producing crops, such as cucumbers, tomatoes, cabbages, green beans, green and red peppers, pumpkins, sweet corn, carrots, and potatoes, which are normally sold locally (Statistics Centre − Abu Dhabi, 2012). Farmers also grow caviar and dates, which are normally exported.
Moreover, in recent years, Abu Dhabi has been recognized for its aggressiveness in wheat production, with statistics indicating that the emirate produces more wheat per hectare than any other part in the gulf region does (Bakhsh, 2014). More tests on other crops are also conducted to establish their adaptability to prevailing climatic conditions. Finally, Abu Dhabi yearly holds festivals about its agricultural practices, which mainly aim at advertising farm products locally and internationally (Al Qaydi & Arthur, 2008).
Costs Incurred by Government in Taking Care of Farming
Farming in Abu Dhabi might be considered expensive when government resources are put into perspective. The government tends to cover most of the farming costs through subsidies to farmers. Water and power are known to be the most expensive farming inputs mainly because they are provided to the UAE citizens freely and are consumed in large proportions, as they are necessary for agriculture (Al Qaydi & Arthur, 2008). The government also provides free animal and plant inspections. In the case of any animal disease outbreak or plant infestation, the government offers vaccines to animals through the Abu Dhabi Food Control Authority (Oxford Business Group, 2010).
The government also takes responsibility for the manufacturing and free distribution of fertilizers. This is done in most farms in Abu Dhabi, thus ensuring the high quality of agricultural products. The government also greatly contributes financially to the invention of waterproof agricultural soils that retain most of the water, thus boosting farm yields (Al Qaydi & Arthur, 2008). The United Arab Emirates government has also taken the initiative to educate farmers in Abu Dhabi on economic farming procedures and eco-friendly products that do not cause pollution to the environment. With these steps from the government, farming has become successful in an area that experiences hostile heat levels. These products sustain the economy and earn export revenue for the country.
Type of Soil Used and Its Source
According to Shahid et al (2014), major strides have been made in soil science, with the government coming up with waterproof soil that does not require frequent watering because it can retain water within itself. This soil has greatly benefited agriculture and helped in the conservation of water for irrigation (Global Forum for Innovations in Agriculture 2014 – Abu Dhabi, 2014). Moreover, the invented soil is non-absorbent; thus, it does not allow water losses through percolation. This is actually a big boost to farming in Abu Dhabi in spite of severe climatic conditions.
During a survey carried out in Abu Dhabi, a large portion of land amounting to 400,000 hectares was discovered to contain soil that is fertile and good for agriculture in the entire emirate (Wangnick, 2002). More researches have established that most soils in Abu Dhabi are favorable for agriculture and farming (Metternicht & Zinck, 2008).
Meanwhile, soil in the city is enriched through compost fertilizer produced by a local compost plant, which supplies organic fertilizers to all farms. Here, the government subsidizes fertilizer supplies at 50% of the price (Bakhsh, 2014). The fertilizer factory in Abu Dhabi has enhanced its distribution channels by establishing local distribution centers in Al Ain and the surrounding farms (Bakhsh, 2014).
Conclusion
Abu Dhabi has become one of the most popular cities in the entire emirate due to its increased agriculture and farming practice. In general, farming has greatly developed the state’s economy and increased the emirate’s population. Agriculture is, therefore, a good economic boost and can lead to industrialization and modernization of an emirate. From the discussion above, it is evident that agriculture and farming have greatly contributed to the elevation of Abu Dhabi to the level of internationally recognized agricultural hubs. The innovation in soil taxonomy and water utilization is an eye-opener to modern society, showing that climatic conditions are not a hindrance to the attainment of food security in the modern world.
References
Al Qaydi, S., & Arthur, R. (2008). Evaluating the Farming Activities in the Western Region of the United Arab Emirates. Asia and Pacific Studies, 5(1), 73-88.
Bakhsh, N. (2014). Farms in Abu Dhabi produce more wheat than regional counterparts. Web.
Behnassi, M., Pollmann, O., & Kissinger, G. (2013). Sustainable Food Security in the Era of Local and Global Environmental Change. London, England: Springer Science & Business.
Free flow: Reaching Water Security through Cooperation. (2013). Paris, France: UNESCO.
Global Forum for Innovations in Agriculture 2014 – Abu Dhabi. (2014). Web.
Jiménez, B., & Asano, T. (2008). Water Reuse: An International Survey of Current Practice, Issues and Needs. London, England: IWA Publishing.
Mohamed, A. (2006). Arid Land Hydrogeology: In Search of a Solution to a Threatened Resource: Proceedings of the Third Joint UAE-Japan Symposium on Sustainable GCC Environment and Water Resources (EWR2006), 28 – 30 January 2006, Abu Dhabi, UAE. London, England: CRC Press, 2006
Metternicht, G., & Zinck, A. (2008). Remote Sensing of Soil Salinization: Impact on Land Management. London, England: CRC Press.
Negewo, B. (2012). Renewable Energy Desalination: An Emerging Solution to Close the Water Gap in the Middle East and North Africa. Washington DC, USA: World Bank Publications.
Oxford Business Group. (2010). The Report: Abu Dhabi 2010. Oxford, England: Oxford Business Group.
Shahid, S., Abdelfattah, M., Wilson, M., Kelley, K., & Chiaretti, J. (2014). United Arab Emirates Keys to Soil Taxonomy. London, England: Springer.
Statistics Centre − Abu Dhabi (SCAD). (2012). Abu Dhabi Over a Half Century. Abu Dhabi, UAE: Statistics Centre − Abu Dhabi (SCAD).
United Nations. Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia. (2001). Implications of Groundwater Rehabilitation on Water Resources Protection and Conservation: Artificial Recharge and Water Quality Improvement in the ESCWA Region. NY, USA: United Nations, Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia.
Verner, D. (2012). Adaptation to a Changing Climate in the Arab Countries: A Case for Adaptation Governance and Leadership in Building Climate Resilience. Washington DC, USA: World Bank Publications.