Special needs can grow their own food
dubai — Dubai Municipality launched its second “Grow your food” initiative on Tuesday to encourage residents to cultivate vegetables and fruits in the balconies and terraces of their homes.
This year, however, the Food Safety Department will add people with disabilities to the competition’s categories that include schools, government and private companies, and residents.
The campaign, which will offer workshops to different society segments, aims to raise awareness on the importance of farming at homes and schools.
“People with disabilities are an integral part of the community and have an active role in the society’s development. They have special powers of their own,” said Khalid Sharif Al Awadhi, executive-director of food control at Dubai Municipality, .
He added that the initiative supported by The Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) of the United Nations works on educating families on growing their food through simple techniques. “They do not have to grow a farm. It is easy to plant natural food in balconies.”
The competition has so far gathered more than 500 participants who are mostly residents. According to Shugufta Zubair, senior Food Safety Awareness Support Officer, around 300 residents and 200 students already have gardens or are working towards making one.
The previous campaign saw the participation of 4,000 students, 20 schools, 200 residents and three labour accommodations. While last year, winners walked away with Dh10,000 as prizes, this year the amounts are to be decided.
Zubair noted there are talks with
300 residents and 200 students have gardens or are working towards making one
People with disabilities are an integral part of the community and have an active role in the society’s development. They have special power of their own.” Khalid Sharif Al Awadhi
the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) to make gardening a part of the school curricula. “Planting school gardens will inculcate the habit of minimising food waste among students who can, in return, convey it to their families,” said Zubair.
She noted that the campaign will help promote food waste reduction as participants witness the hard work that goes into growing crops. It will further help grow nutritious and natural food that are free from pesticides.
Food waste reduction
Nabil Gangi, FAO deputy regional representative to the Near East and North Africa, said global markets waste 30 per cent of food and associated resources. He noted that awareness campaigns make a difference in reducing waste.
“In developing countries, we see higher waste at the production, and distribution level while at more affluent societies, we see it at consuming side,” said Gangi.
“Increasing awareness will help with consumption and future production to eliminate food waste.”
sherouk@khaleejtimes.com