The Chairman of the Ras Al Khaimah Agricultural Cooperative Society, Abdullah Khalfan Al Shariqi, called for support to agriculture, and that there be control over the market in terms of sales of agricultural production inputs of seeds, fertilizers, and pesticides, because they represent a huge burden on farmers.
And he identified 13 challenges and demands in which farmers need the support of the Ministry, which is setting a clear agricultural plan related to growing crops and other crops, developing a marketing plan for farmers ’products, tightening control over agricultural production inputs and high prices (including pesticides, seeds, and fertilizers), and preventing the introduction of agricultural pesticides into the country without Undergo field testing under the climatic conditions of the Emirates, as pesticides are sometimes introduced and registered under other names, without being subject to any type of experiment, which causes great losses to farmers. Research stations, experiments and research centers, such as the Al Hamraniya Station and Dibba Station, which had a major role in agricultural experiments, should be reopened, in addition to the need for stations for experiments for vegetables and fodder, and effective pest control programs, such as the palm weevil program, and the presence of agricultural equipment, Like the tractors that serve the land, because the farmer is currently suffering a big problem in this regard.
He stated that among the challenges is the presence of significant competition and deviation in production at the time of farmers ’production in the Emirates, especially from production from outside the country, in addition to the support currently provided by the Ministry is not sufficient, as it does not exceed 5 to 20% of the required support. This is not enough to encourage farmers to continue their agricultural profession. He added: «One of the major challenges related to the different climate fluctuations, from the high summer heat and the scarcity of water, which makes farmers rely on groundwater. There is also a major demand for farmers that the ministry must take care of, whether with regard to vegetable farms, crops, or dates, which is preparing the markets for the national product, by providing stable and permanent markets, and markets outside the state in the event of a surplus of local production », calling for a new generation that would cultivate agriculture, Through youth motivation and support.