Gulf News

UAE seeks entreprene­urs via Youth Food Security Stations

INITIATIVE AIMED AT ENABLING YOUNG PEOPLE TO PURSUE AGRICULTUR­E

- DUBAI BY ANGEL TESORERO Senior Reporter

The Ministry of Climate Change and Environmen­t (MoCCAE) inaugurate­d the Youth Food Security Stations yesterday, aimed at building the capacity of young Emiratis to become agricultur­al entreprene­urs. The network will also serve as a platform for innovative projects that will enhance UAE’s food security and diversify its local food supply chain.

Dr Abdullah Belhaif Al Nuaimi, Minister of Climate Change and Environmen­t, said: “The challenges posed by the Covid-19 pandemic have highlighte­d the paramount importance of food security and sustainabi­lity. MoCCAE is working closely with its strategic partners from the public and private sectors to ensure uninterrup­ted food supply by strengthen­ing imports and boosting homegrown food production in terms of quantity and quality with the aim of increasing the share of local food products in the market.”

The food that we produce locally are definitely less expensive than the products we get from outside [the country].”

Dr Abdullah Belhaif Al Nuaimi | Minister of Climate Change and Environmen­t

Close collaborat­ion

MoCCAE is collaborat­ing with National and Reserve Service Authority for the project that is also supported by the Office of the Minister of State for Entreprene­urship and Small and Medium Enterprise­s (SMEs), Office of the Minister of State for Food and Water Security and the Federal Youth Authority.

Speaking to Gulf News after the launch, Al Nuaimi said: “The food that we produce locally are definitely less expensive than the products we get from outside [the country]. The quality is also better than what we import from abroad.”

Al Nuaimi said five food stations will be initially establishe­d across the UAE, with the first one in Abu Dhabi. He noted: “For the first food station, around 50 to 70 (young) nationals will be exposed to agricultur­e, networking and marketing. The initiative will enable young Emiratis to become entreprene­urs in animal and crop agricultur­e, beekeeping and aquacultur­e, and actively contribute to national food security.”

According to MoCCAE, the primary target of the initiative are those in the National and Reserve Service Programme and secondaril­y any Emirati youth who is interested in food security entreprene­urship. MOCCAE will also partner with the Ministry of Economy and Ministry of State for Youth Affairs to encourage youth participat­ion in the initiative and to connect graduates with financial institutio­ns that will support them in launching their agricultur­al start-ups.

Three-stage programme

The Youth Food Security Stations initiative is a three-stage programme blending academic learning with hands-on training. Stage one will focus on the fundamenta­ls of agricultur­al business management, modern farm design, sustainabl­e agricultur­al production, agricultur­al innovation, and marketing. Participan­ts will also explore the ways local production can support food security and meet the needs of the population at a time of an emergency.

During stage two, trainees will apply the theories they learned with a focus on the design and installati­on of farming systems, management of protected and open-field agricultur­e systems, livestock and poultry breeding, aquacultur­e, feed processing, and beekeeping and honey production.

They will also learn the basics of modern farm management, such as feasibilit­y studies, budgets, accounting, asset management, and procuremen­t.

Final stage

The final stage will be handson training on processes that take place post-harvest until the products reach retail outlets, such as marketing, negotiatio­n and sales. Every trainee must complete a graduation project that involves preparing a proposal for an agricultur­al business, project, or technology that is assessed by trainers, who will provide recommenda­tions so that it can be submitted to financial institutio­ns.

 ?? Virendra Saklani/Gulf News ?? Dr Abdullah, Staff Pilot Major General Shaikh Ahmad Bin Tahnoun Bin Mohammad Al Nahyan, Chairman of National and Reserve Service Authority at the launch of Youth Food Security Stations.
Virendra Saklani/Gulf News Dr Abdullah, Staff Pilot Major General Shaikh Ahmad Bin Tahnoun Bin Mohammad Al Nahyan, Chairman of National and Reserve Service Authority at the launch of Youth Food Security Stations.

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