UAE sees development of hydroponics greenhouses
Delegates were also treated to a Technical Tour of a farm in Abu Dhabi's Al Katem area, which contained a number of agricultural innovations, such as greenhouses, hydroponics, and Global G.A.P. Certification, one of 110 farms in Abu Dhabi to achieve this prestigious title.
On day one of the forum, Basem Al Khawaldeh, ADFSC Acting Farming Section Head navigated his peers through a roundtable discussion entitled 'the greenhouse and hydroponics industry in the UAE'.
"The primary aim of the greenhouse is to keep the internal temperature (greenhouse environment) at an optimal level no matter the external temperature or humidity. The weather can be 50 degrees outside the greenhouse in the height of summer, but thanks to new greenhouse technology, the temperature will remain a steady 28 degrees; the optimal temperature for year-round growing of crops such as tomatoes and cucumbers," said Mr. Al Khawaldeh.
There are an estimated 7,600 greenhouses in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi. Many of these are low to medium technology, but thanks to developments such as the Khalifa Fund, farmers in Abu Dhabi are witnessing the construction of new medium to high-tech greenhouses that feature shading systems and temperature and humidity sensors, which monitor the conditions inside and automate processes to ensure ideal-growing conditions at all times.
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