Digest this: UAE rice project in Sharjah a game changer
CROP SOWN IN NOVEMBER LAST YEAR HARVESTED IN THREE STAGES LAST MONTH
The success of a pioneering project to grow rice on a farm in Sharjah has the potential to shape the future of agriculture not just in the UAE, but also regionally, and the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment said.
The project was carried out at the ministry’s research centre in Al Dhaid. The crop was sown in November last year and harvested in three stages last month, after completing a growth cycle of 180 days.
To facilitate monitoring, the plot was divided into three blocks. The first was harvested on May 5, the second on May 10, and the third on May 30.
Successful pilot phase
The pilot phase showed positive results, following a yield of 763kg of rice per 1,000 square metres. The types of rice grown were the short-grained Asemi (Japonica), which is extensively cultivated and consumed in China, Japan, and Korea; and the long-grained FL478 (Indica) variety, more popularly known as basmati.
Project experts selected the two rice varieties because of their ability to tolerate heat, salinity, and poor soil conditions.
The research team installed an underground drip irrigation system to address water scarcity and reduce the amount of water used by the crops.
The harvested rice will only be put to commercial use after the completion of testing.
Partnership with Korea
Dr Thani Bin Ahmad Al Zeyoudi, Minister of Climate Change and Environment, said the success of the research programme conducted in partnership with the Rural Development Administration of South Korea and UAE University (UAEU) proved the possibility of cultivating rice in the desert. “The innovative venture is the first endeavour of its kind in the Middle East,” Al Zeyoudi said in a statement to Gulf News. “If successful on a large scale, this groundbreaking project has the potential to shape the future of agriculture, as it can be replicated in other arid regions.” He added: “Rice is one of the most important foods in this region. We are focusing on driving innovation and exploring agritech in growing crops in high demand locally. We seek to make the most of our resources
and find the crops and methods suitable for our desert climate.”
South Korea’s Ambassador to the UAE, Kwon Yongwoo, said: “Cooperation by the two countries in the agricultural area has seen the first tangible success, especially during the pandemic.”
The Korean ambassador also expressed the intention of the Korean government to continue to work closely with the ministry on the second phase of the rice cultivation programme, which will focus more intensively on water-saving technologies to ensure sustainability.
763kg rice yield per 1,000 square metres