A special farm run by special people
— Next time you pick up the Al Khas brand of organic vegetables from supermarkets, you should know its contents are as special as the people who produce it.
The glossy tomatoes and farmfresh cucumbers are grown by more than 100 men and women with Autism and Down Syndrome, in Abu Dhabi.
A 30-minute drive from the city centre, this 35-hectare organic farm located on the outskirts of the UAE capital supplies an average of 5,000 kgs of vegetables every week to Carrefour, Lulu hypermakets and Union Co-operative supermarkets in the UAE.
The farm is an initiative run by the Zayed Agricultural Centre for Rehabilitation & Development under the aegis of Zayed Higher Organisation set up by the late UAE president Sheikh Zayed, to support specially-abled people.
“Currently, we have a total of 105 special needs staff — 80 men and 25 women. The idea is to offer them a source of income and a safe work environment so that they are self-reliant,” said Abdullah Al Hashmi, Public Relations and Marketing officer at the Centre. The special needs staff is paid Dh4,000 monthly by the Centre, in addition to a government salary.
When Khaleej Times visited the farm on Wednesday, March 15, it appeared like a verdant paradise in the middle of the desert, with acres of open fields and greenhouses growing tomatoes, green chilies, capsicum, zucchini, cabbage, watermelons and even strawberries.
Wearing their green uniforms, some special needs staff were tending to the soil or checking the strawberry fields while others were plucking capsicums and green chilies to be packaged off to supermarkets. Many were eager to show off their harvests and pose for photographs. “I like working here. My family is proud that I am able to earn,” said emirati Awad Al Minhali, who is married with a kid.
An at an egg station nearby, Omar Al Hammadi was busy checking chicken coops for eggs. “I am good at collecting eggs. See, today I collected more than 75 eggs,” said Al Hammadi proudly, showing off his day’s work.
The centre also does animal farming and has more than 1,500 chickens and 600 goats. “We are the only farm in Abu Dhabi that makes organic cheese from our own goats. More than 150 litres of milk are produced and turned into cheese,” said Al Hammadi.
Fatheya Al Naqbi, another special needs staff who joined the centre five years ago, said she enjoys her work. “I joined five years ago, and now I can handle all the work including processing of milk and packaging,” said Al Naqbi.
The farm uses organic waste as fertilisers and produces its own grass to feed animals.
“We are hundred percent sustainable and use organic waste as fertilisers. The maintenance of the crops is always a challenge because we do not use any pesticides. Sometimes, we even incur huge lossess,” said Al Hammadi.
Currently, we have a total of 105 special needs staff — 80 men and 25 women, offering them income and a safe work environment so that they are self-reliant.” Abdullah Al Hashmi, PR officer, Zayed Agricultural Centre
We are the only farm in Abu Dhabi that makes organic cheese from our own goats. We are hundred per cent sustainable and use organic waste as fertilisers.” Omar Al Hammadi, staff at the farm
They are not disabled. Many of them have great potential and we are amazed by their energy and enthusiasm in learning new skills.” Mohamed Saif Al Areefi, Centre director