Dubai Municipality has launched ‘Dubai’s Best Homegrown Produce Competition’, an initiative aimed at supporting citizen farmers and promoting local agriculture to increase local production and enhance food security in the Emirate.
One of the programs under Dubai Farms, Dubai Municipality, shared that it targets a number of areas, including the promotion of a productive agriculture culture, environmental sustainability, and self-sufficiency, alongside raising community awareness about the latest methods and techniques in agriculture.
The prizes will amount to AED 100,000, which will be awarded to the first three centers divided into:
- AED 50,000 for the first winner,
- AED 30,000 for the second, and
- AED 20,000 for the third.
Further, a Medal of Dubai’s Best Homegrown Produce, will be placed by Dubai Municipal Leaders at the front of the winning garden.
The winners of the competition will be announced in May 2024.
Muhammad Abdul Rahman Al-Awadi, Director of Agriculture Department at Dubai Municipality, said: “Dubai Municipality is focused on the goal of supporting community practices, which motivates both citizens and residents to produce sustainable local agriculture. It is a pivotal factor in the efforts to ensure the sustainability of the food security system and environmental resources. The commitment comes in support of the National Food Security Strategy goals, as well as Dubai Food Security Strategy, which aims at improving domestic production and reducing food loss and wastage, further consolidating the Emirate’s position as the world’s leading destination that combines aesthetic, environmental and food sustainability.”
“The Municipality offers essential facilities to implement initiatives and programs to support the success of citizens’ agricultural projects and encourage them to make use of available spaces in their gardens thus boosting proportions of the contributions made by small-scale domestic agricultural enterprises towards Dubai’s domestic product ranges. It further aims to improve the quality of life and happiness of the members of the society,” Al-Awadi added.
There is a one-month period to register for this competition and participants must share the details of their cultivated items, irrigation methods, and a picture of the garden.
All kinds of owners (property or lease) with home gardens are eligible to participate in the competition, however, owners of farmlands, members of the Supreme or Technical Committee, or other subcommittees are not.
On assessment criteria, a number of factors will be considered, including the use of organic fertilisers, the reduction of chemical fertilisers and soil free of weeds, and ensuring the safety of plant varieties from pests and diseases through integrated control methods.
Proper waste disposal and recycling of agricultural waste, will also be considered.
The criteria also highlight points such as:
- Rationalising resource consumption of both water and electricity,
- The use of solar energy,
- The application of advanced irrigation systems,
- The preservation of quality and hygiene, and
- The recycling of irrigation water.
Elsewhere, the diversity of plants grown and the balance of plants in the garden are highlighted in the criteria to ensure overall appearance.
In addition, the criteria set standards for the type and quality of production, maintaining the garden’s hygiene, security, and safety measures such as guarding power lines, irrigation sockets, and service corridors within the park, and the requirement for an innovative and unique idea.
It was shared that Dubai Municipality will provide a package of services and facilities to support its national farmers through the Dubai Farms Program.
It will provide agricultural extension services, control agricultural pests and necessary laboratory tests, competitive prices for agricultural supplies, machinery, and irrigation systems, and prepare the production agriculture strategy for Dubai, it was shared.