Against all odds, agriculture and the tilling of the arid land have been part of the fabric of the UAE, even before the country was first formed, particularly in Fujairah, Ras Al Khaimah and Al Ain. Those living here had a deep understanding of the earth, its paucity of water and the testing environmental conditions that prevailed. Miraculously, between 1971 and 2011 the number of farms in the UAE rose from 4,000 to 35,704, according to government figures, as generations of Emirati farmers worked methodically in the blistering heat to produce fruit and vegetables. Against that backdrop, the news that many farmers in Fujairah have scaled back production or shut up shop altogether because cultivating produce is increasingly unworkable is particularly tragic. Farmers are reliant on costly desalinated water while cheap imports and mass-produced supermarket produce means they are unable to compete. Today a kilo of cucumbers in Fujairah fetches less than a dirham. In January, frustrated farmers across the UAE said water scarcity had forced them to cut back or close their farms.
Worldwide, the health benefits of eating farm-to-table produce and being able to trace the origins of what you consume have been much-vaunted in recent years. Homegrown fruit and vegetables which have not travelled thousands of miles are tastier, more nutritious and less susceptible to contamination. Buying and eating locally also means that agricultural profits are reinvested in local economies while the environmental benefits of shortening the distance from harvest to table are clear.
Farmers who pioneer organic agriculture deserve credit and encouragement from both customers and the government. We can all do our bit to support them, from buying locally to visiting farms and backing those trying to sustain a living from the land. A government programme last year sought to increase production by subsidising equipment, providing expertise and connecting farms with supermarkets. This year, Abu Dhabi Farmers Service Centre agreed to convert 100 farms for organic agriculture over the next four years. But more must be done to support growers, many of whom are currently choosing between closing their farms and growing only dates. Given the health and environmental benefits of local agriculture, it is in our best interests to help sustain the industry.
COMPANY PROFILE
Founders: Alhaan Ahmed, Alyina Ahmed and Maximo Tettamanzi
Total funding: Self funded
Scotland v Ireland:
Scotland (15-1): Stuart Hogg; Tommy Seymour, Huw Jones, Sam Johnson, Sean Maitland; Finn Russell, Greig Laidlaw (capt); Josh Strauss, James Ritchie, Ryan Wilson; Jonny Gray, Grant Gilchrist; Simon Berghan, Stuart McInally, Allan Dell
Replacements: Fraser Brown, Jamie Bhatti, D'arcy Rae, Ben Toolis, Rob Harley, Ali Price, Pete Horne, Blair Kinghorn
Coach: Gregor Townsend (SCO)
Ireland (15-1): Rob Kearney; Keith Earls, Chris Farrell, Bundee Aki, Jacob Stockdale; Jonathan Sexton, Conor Murray; Jack Conan, Sean O'Brien, Peter O'Mahony; James Ryan, Quinn Roux; Tadhg Furlong, Rory Best (capt), Cian Healy
Replacements: Sean Cronin, Dave Kilcoyne, Andrew Porter, Ultan Dillane, Josh van der Flier, John Cooney, Joey Carbery, Jordan Larmour
Coach: Joe Schmidt (NZL)
Nayanthara: Beyond The Fairy Tale
Starring: Nayanthara, Vignesh Shivan, Radhika Sarathkumar, Nagarjuna Akkineni
Director: Amith Krishnan
Rating: 3.5/5
COMPANY%20PROFILE%20
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Citadel: Honey Bunny first episode
Directors: Raj & DK
Stars: Varun Dhawan, Samantha Ruth Prabhu, Kashvi Majmundar, Kay Kay Menon
Rating: 4/5
The specs
Engine: 2-litre or 3-litre 4Motion all-wheel-drive Power: 250Nm (2-litre); 340 (3-litre) Torque: 450Nm Transmission: 8-speed automatic Starting price: From Dh212,000 On sale: Now
SPECS
Engine: 4-litre V8 twin-turbo
Power: 630hp
Torque: 850Nm
Transmission: 8-speed Tiptronic automatic
Price: From Dh599,000
On sale: Now
How to protect yourself when air quality drops
Install an air filter in your home.
Close your windows and turn on the AC.
Shower or bath after being outside.
Wear a face mask.
Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.
If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.
Kanguva
Director: Siva
Stars: Suriya, Bobby Deol, Disha Patani, Yogi Babu, Redin Kingsley
From Zero
Artist: Linkin Park
Label: Warner Records
Number of tracks: 11
Rating: 4/5
Zayed Sustainability Prize
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: HyperSpace
Started: 2020
Founders: Alexander Heller, Rama Allen and Desi Gonzalez
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Entertainment
Number of staff: 210
Investment raised: $75 million from investors including Galaxy Interactive, Riyadh Season, Sega Ventures and Apis Venture Partners
Rooney's club record
At Everton Appearances: 77; Goals: 17
At Manchester United Appearances: 559; Goals: 253
More from Rashmee Roshan Lall
The specs
Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder MHEV
Power: 360bhp
Torque: 500Nm
Transmission: eight-speed automatic
Price: from Dh282,870
On sale: now