Bahrain’s agricultural sector must follow sustainable methods: Minister
TDT | Manama
The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com
The need to adopt sustainable farming methods was highlighted by Works, Municipalities Affairs and Urban Planning Minister Essam Khalaf yesterday. This came as the minister visited Island’s Farm yesterday along with Undersecretary of Agriculture and Marine Resources Hassan Al Hawaj, Shaikh Rashid bin Khalifa bin Ali Al Khalifa and a number of officials in the ministry.
The minister affirmed that the ministry, represented by the Agency for Agriculture and Marine Resources, supports the adoption of sustainable farming methods to address environmental concerns and to achieve sustainable development. Minister Khalaf said: “The Agency for Agriculture and Marine Resources is working to encourage food production projects that adopt systems to preserve natural resources by adopting modern agricultural systems such as soilless agriculture, and is also working to encourage the use of renewable energy sources such as solar energy in operating these systems to reduce climate pollutant emissions.”
The minister and the accompanying delegation listened to an explanation of the progress of the production process in the farm and the development plans implemented by the company to enhance its contribution to supplying the market with local products of vegetables and milk derivatives. Minister Khalaf praised the project, which supports the official efforts to achieve self-sufficiency in vegetables and milk products. He also praised the efforts of those in charge of this distinguished Bahraini venture by introducing solar energy into the project.
He stressed that the ministry will spare no effort to support efforts to introduce solar energy into agricultural production processes in farms, a step that will achieve a savings rate in the regular electricity consumption bill, which will have a positive impact on the agricultural sector apart from supporting Bahraini farmers. Mr Al Hawaj confirmed that the Agency is moving forward in taking steps to implement the directives of His Majesty to boost agricultural production.
“As a result, the implementation of the National Strategy for Food Security has been initiated through four main pillars, namely the development of national capacities in the field of food industries, and work on building an infrastructure capable of simulating future goals in the field of food security, achieving self-sufficiency and providing incentives and facilities to attract the private sector to invest in the field of food security as an essential partner in this strategy.”
Mr Al Hawaj stressed that the initiatives to introduce modern agricultural systems and diversify the local product are at the forefront of the Agency’s initiatives in pursuit of achieving sustainable food security for Bahrain.
“Supporting the entry of the private sector into agricultural projects in Bahrain constitutes an added value and an important axis within the efforts to advance agriculture in the Kingdom, based on the directives and continuous follow-up from the Minister of Works, Municipalities Affairs and Urban Planning.” He pointed out that the agency continues to develop initiatives and programmes aimed at promoting this sector and maximising its contribution to the food security strategy of Bahrain.
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