Watch: Inside Sharjah’s sprawling wheat farm that has greened the mountainous desert – News

Surrounded by the rugged mountains in Sharjah’s Mleiha lies what used to be a vast expanse of desert. Today, the rocky sand has been transformed into huge green circles. In its rich soil a history is sown that defies predictions that wheat could not be grown in the desert.

When the Khaleej Times When I visited the farm located about 65 kilometers from Sharjah city, the wheat farm’s saplings had grown knee-deep. Some 25 crop lines have been added, bringing the total to 37, forming a green carpet of 1,900 hectares.

Last year, the wheat farm flourished on more than 400 hectares of land and produced more than 200 tonnes of high-quality yield. We are now weeks away from producing significantly more than last year.

Stay up to date with the latest news. Follow KT on WhatsApp channels.

Now in its second year, the farm has been planted with 300 tons of high-quality seeds from various locations. Around 24,000 tons of organic fertilizers were applied to ensure optimal growth.

An irrigation pond with a capacity of 48,000 cubic meters extracts and pumps water for irrigation.

Called ‘Saba Sanabel’, meaning seven ears, the wheat produced at the farm has the highest protein content on the UAE market, at 18 per cent. The first batch of wheat was available during the last 10 days of the holy month of Ramadan. It was sold in two sizes: 2 kg and 5 kg.

The goal is to produce 15,200 tons of wheat, which is the amount consumed in Sharjah in a year. This will effectively replace imported wheat.

[ad_2]