The Ministry of Climate Change and the Environment is implementing a research project for the use of remote sensing and aerial survey techniques for agricultural areas at the state level, using UAVs, with a view to accurately monitoring their data and information.
The project, which was carried out in the Wadi Al Aim area of the Emirate of Ras Al Khaimah, is part of the project. The project aims at enhancing the reliance on innovation, employing the latest international technologies to support the country's march towards sustainability and providing a reliable and efficient database and statistical information that contributes to decision-making. And draw future plans and strategies.
Minister of Climate Change and Environment Dr. Thani Bin Ahmed Al-Zewaidi said that the project will contribute in the future to the optimum utilization of the resources of the environment and resources that support the agricultural sector, and to expand the concepts of sustainable agriculture by employing the latest global technologies available in this field.
He pointed out that the implementation of the project will put the UAE among the top five countries in the world in terms of the area that is surveyed using these technologies, and will be the first country in the world that uses this technology in the measurement and survey of many statistical data, which reach more than 22 statistical data.
The project aims to determine the number and areas of plant, animal and mixed farms, and to identify the quality of soil and its validity, to ensure the abundance of production and to develop plans to increase it, and to identify diseases and plant injuries in order to develop pest control plans and draw future plans to prevent them.
It also aims to identify the number and areas of land planted with trees, which represent sustainable or seasonal crops such as vegetables and some fruits, and field crops (corn, wheat and barley), which gives a clear picture of the quantities of production available to provide support and guidance for each of these types Of agricultural products, as well as proper planning to combat diseases and agricultural pests that affect these types of products, which represent a national wealth, including the control of palm weevil.
The objectives of the project include identifying the areas planted with fodder crops, which are a strong supporter of the development of animal production, and helps the ministry to draw its steps and make decisions regarding the possibility of self-sufficiency of some types of feed, and start reducing the quantities imported from abroad, and provide the necessary support to increase the productivity and effectiveness This feed.
The number and types of protected and non-refrigerated houses and their addition to periodic visits to agricultural extension, which helps to establish estimates and expectations of the volume of production, and thus can develop effective marketing plans to support small farmers. The project also aims to identify the irrigation methods used in farms, which may give a clear picture of the quantities of water used in agriculture. Therefore, plans are drawn up to provide suitable water sources for the owners of the farms, thus reducing pressure on groundwater and achieving the sustainability of the irrigation system.
The experimental phase
The Ministry of Climate Change and Environment carried out the pilot phase of the project in the Wadi Al-Aim area of the Emirate of Ras Al-Khaimah from August until the end of 2018. The aerial survey found 16 plantations, three animal farms and three mixed farms in the region. The area of temporary crops (vegetables and field crops) is 19,200 square meters, the area of permanent crops (fruit) is 80,000 square meters, the area of protected agriculture is 355 square meters, and two houses of protected agriculture. The cultivated areas are palm trees and other fruit trees, The total length of the land is 248 meters. The land area is 22,355 square meters. The area of the buildings is 8870 square meters. The number of wells is 57 wells. The soil quality varies between mud, sand and rock.