‘Retail chains need to provide more support to local farmers’
abu dhabi — There are tens of thousands farms and some 60,000 local products but not many make it to shelves of hypermarkets in the country, experts said at the recently concluded ninth edition of SIAL Middle East.
Food experts mooted an all-out effort from ministry, private-public entities and retail chains to safeguard the interest of the farmers.
Abu Dhabi Food Security Centre Director General Khalifa Ahmed Al Ali highlighted the need for retail sector to offer more support to the local producers.
“It is high time that steps are taken to protect the interests of the local farmers. Investing in food security sectors, including agriculture and food industries, through public-private partnerships is crucial to fast track national growth. It will also support marketing of agricultural products through providing a safe investment environment.”
Abu Dhabi Farmers’ Services Centre acting chief executive officer Nasser Mohammed Al Junaibi said there needs to be a way for farm products to be seen on shelves of retail chains.
“There are 24,000 farms in Abu Dhabi and some 4,000 of them were hi-tech. However, locally made vegetable has a market share of just 15 per cent. The capability is much higher. We can easily do more but it is not easy to enter the retail market. We need retailers to support us.”