FOOD SUPPLY: SUCCESS OF THE STRATEGY

Figures speak for the success of the food security strategy and proactive measures by the Dubai government during the Covid-19 pandemic.

“The amount of food commodities imported to Dubai increased compared to that in 2019. This was a strong indication that all the efforts by the Dubai government and the private sector were successful especially during the peak of the lockdowns and travel suspensions,” said Dr Essam Sharaf Al Hashmi, head of Food Trade Control at Dubai Municipality’s Food Safety Department. Dubai registered Dh11 billion (2.87 million tonnes) worth of foreign trade related to food supply in the first quarter of 2020.

According to the figures from the municipality, Dubai had imported 718,891 tonnes of food in March 2019. Due to the impact of the pandemic, this dropped to 646,221 tonnes in March 2020.

However, the quantity of imported food consignments started rising thereafter. The figures showed that as many as 759,006 tonnes of food items were imported in April and 805,105 tonnes in May. “The dashboard showed that there was steady increase further in May, June and July also as against the same months the year before. It was only in September 2020 the import rates came down to the regular rates,” said Al Hashmi.