Dubai: Grow your own fruits and vegetables to win Dh100,000 prizes – News

Dubai Municipality announced ‘Dubai Best Local Produce Competition’ to engage all members of society and encourage citizens and residents to exploit all available spaces to grow fruits and vegetables to achieve self-sufficiency, increase income and raise the quality of life in the UAE community.

The competition also promotes local agriculture to increase local production and improve food security in the Emirate of Dubai. However, the best homegrown produce contest is only for residential areas in Dubai and is not allowed for those in apartments.

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The cash prize will amount to 100,000 dirhams, which will be awarded to the first three centers, divided into 50,000 dirhams for the first winner, 30,000 dirhams for the second and 20,000 dirhams for the third. Additionally, Dubai municipal leaders will place a medal for Dubai’s best homegrown produce in front of the winning garden. Contest winners will be announced in May 2024.

Muhammad Abdul Rahman Al-Awadi, Director of the Department of Agriculture of Dubai Municipality, said: “Dubai Municipality focuses on the objective of supporting community practices, which motivate both citizens and residents to produce sustainable agriculture. sustainable locality. It is a fundamental factor in efforts to guarantee the sustainability of the food security system and environmental resources.

“The commitment comes in support of the objectives of the National Food Security Strategy, as well as the Dubai Food Security Strategy, which aims to improve domestic production and reduce food loss and waste, further consolidating the position of the Emirate as the main world destination that combines aesthetics and food sustainability.”

How to take part

The Municipality gave a period of one month to register for this contest through the following link: https://dm.gov.ae. Applicants can complete the form, which requires the owner’s personal details, site number, location of the planted area (patio or rooftop), details of the elements grown, irrigation methods and a photograph of the garden.

All types of owners (property or leasehold) with home gardens can participate in the competition, while owners of agricultural land, members of the Supreme or Technical Committee or other subcommittees are not entitled to participate in it.

Dubai Municipality selected a comprehensive matrix that includes key criteria for evaluation. It involves factors such as environment and sustainability that underline the conditions for the use of organic fertilizers and the reduction of chemical fertilizers and a weed-free soil, ensuring the safety of plant varieties against pests and diseases through integrated control methods , proper waste disposal and recycling of agricultural waste.

In addition, the criteria highlight points such as the rationalization of 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. The diversity of plants grown and the balance of plants in the garden are highlighted in the criteria to ensure the overall appearance.

In addition, the criteria establish standards for the type and quality of production, maintaining the hygiene, safety and protection measures of the garden such as guards for power lines, irrigation intakes and service corridors within the park, and the requirement for an innovative idea. and only. .

Through the Dubai Farms Programme, Dubai Municipality will provide a package of services and facilities that support its domestic farmers. It will provide agricultural extension services, control agricultural pests and necessary laboratory tests, competitive prices for agricultural supplies, machinery and irrigation systems, and prepare agricultural production strategy for Dubai.

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