Al Busath Al Akhader, a company from U.A.E. specialised in the development of greenhouse projects, is currently assisting in the construction of a new research centre in Abu Dhabi. The new project was requested by the ADFCA (Abu Dhabi Food Control Authority), to determine several cultivation specifications like estimating the water needs for the production of vegetables in both high and low tech greenhouses,” explains Mohammad Khader Hussein, owner of the firm.“For instance, a grower may wish to know how many litres of water will be needed to grow one kilo of tomatoes in a low tech or a high tech greenhouse, and this is one of the operational costs that the entity is devoted to comparing. The ADFCA project will help potential investors and growers to determine what technology to use for their specific purposes. In some cases a low tech greenhouse will do the job, but they are increasingly dependent on technology that is more advanced. Hence, this research centre is being built to convince them and help them choose the right materials. ”
Mohammad Khader Hussein at the GreenTech in Amsterdam last month
In the U.A.E, demand for greenhouse products is on the rise, and Abu Dhabi’s government is offering subsidies to the sector, as its priority is to ensure at least 70% of the region’s food security. “Greenhouse agriculture is thus meant to play an essential role in achieving that target; our job is to introduce them to all the available high tech technology for greenhouse or glasshouses,” affirms Mohammad.
The company imports high technology glasshouses of the Venlo type, fundamentally from the Netherlands. The Arabian Peninsula is very hot, so the facilities need to be provided with the right cooling technology, such as circulation fans, pad and fan cooling, roof ventilation or fogging systems, as well as with the right materials to cover the greenhouse, i.e. shadings.
“The world is developing, technology is developing and our target is to let growers know about the available high tech, attempting to convince them that it is an investment that leads to long term improvements in commercial terms. Being up to date with the technology is simply essential for anyone looking to develop their business,” concludes Mohammad Khader Hussein.
For more information
Al Busath Engeneering Group
Mohammad Khader Hussein