Entities strengthen collaboration under directive of His Excellency Sheikh Nahayan Mabarak Al Nahayan
Under the directive of His Excellency Sheikh Nahayan Mabarak Al Nahayan, Minister of Tolerance and Coexistence and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Khalifa International Award for Date Palm and Agricultural Innovation, the Award’s General Secretariat signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment (MOCCAE) and the United Arab Emirates University (UAEU). The agreement aims to strengthen cooperation among the three institutions in developing the date palm cultivation and agricultural innovation sectors in the UAE.
His Excellency Sultan Alwan, Acting Undersecretary of MOCCAE, Dr Ghaleb Al Hadrami Al Braiki, President of UAEU, and His Excellency Dr Abdelouahhab Zaid, Secretary General of Khalifa International Award for Date Palm and Agricultural Innovation, signed the MoU at UAEU.
His Excellency Sultan Alwan noted that under the terms of the agreement, the three entities aim to launch an award for innovative local farmers who have marked outstanding achievements in date palm cultivation. The partners will also implement a joint initiative to replace economically unviable date varieties with more economical ones, promote the adoption of modern technology in date palm farming, including irrigation and pest control, and collaborate in organizing local and international festivals and other events under the supervision of the Award’s General Secretariat.
Dr Al Braiki said that the MoU will contribute to the success of co-hosting the Seventh International Date Palm Conference, set to take place under the patronage of the UAE President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan. Furthermore, he emphasized the mutual benefits of the cooperation in training, capacity building, exchange of experience, and issuing joint electronic and printed publications in the fields of date palm cultivation as well as agricultural innovation and research.
For his part, His Excellency Dr Zaid highlighted the importance of the agreement in developing date palm cultivation and advancing agricultural innovation in line with the vision of the wise UAE leadership.
