ABU DHABI // The study by UAE University concludes with a series of recommendations, the first of which is based on prioritising use of water.
“Watering crops has more priority compared to landscape,” it read.
The study also mentioned irrigation management by adopting the best agricultural practices.
“These include irrigation scheduling in order to reduce watering amounts, increasing water use efficiency and increasing water productivity,” it read. “It is worth mentioning that more effort has to be done related to irrigation scheduling through optimisation models, to reach the maximum yield with minimal drops.”
A third recommendation deals with planning and development.
“This could be done through taking positive actions to reduce irrigation requirements, irrigating with a mixture of saline and brackish water up to acceptable limits, using the treated domestic wastewater and developing the planning and development sector, through adoption and implementation of the best practices worldwide in water planning and development, such as Australia’s expertise,” it read.
The cultivation of indigenous and naturalised plants was also recommended.
“It could save enormous amounts of water. These desert plants have amazing potential to adapt to the harsh environmental conditions, including drought and soil salinity,” read the report. Finally, the community was said to play an essential role.
“Educating and raising the awareness level for them to [know] about the expected critical challenges and available solutions, that can rescue the food production sector, is crucial,” it added.
cmalek@thenational.ae
