Integrated Farming is a Farm Management System and in Al Ain – UAE the same is used to ensure environmental conservation & preservation.

Using the waste from fish farming, the crop of watermelons is nourished. The fish farming waste comprises of Nitrogen and Nitrates used as fertilisers. By using this simple technique, the water usage is reduced by 90 percent & crop is augmented by up to 300 percent. The carbon footprint is small but results are big.

The date palm trees produce fruits three seasons in a year. Just by using the wastewater from fish farms the produce of date are ensured & the fruit is delicious.

These Integrated Farming are used by Abdulrahman Al Shamsi's farm in Al Wagan, Al Ain – UAE. His farm has no greenhouses unlike other farms. He uses overhead covering [as is evident in the picture attached] only. The plants can be effectively protected against the intense heat of over 50 degree Celsius. The temperature inside the green houses can be warmer by 10 to 20 degree Celsius.

Mr. Shamsi has travelled to various farms around the world in search of new, efficient & eco-friendly technologies. He has gone an extra mile by teaching the farmers. These eco-friendly measures are now practiced by over 40 farms. International Centre for Biosaline Agriculture, based in the UAE has been supporting him in his initiatives. They are working to improve the conditions and agriculture production of farms situated in arid environments.

The farm of Mr. Shamsi has become a model farm in Al Ain and they are able to convince others to adopt more energy saving & water saving farming methods. This is extremely encouraging in current situation of climate change & global warming. UAE is moving fast towards food security.

Thanks for reading.

Picture Courtsey: Abdulrahman Al Shamsi's farm in Al Wagan, Al Ain. Courtesy Showkat Nabi Rather, ICBA [International Centre for Biosaline Agriculture]