Large-scale agriculture poses many challenges for this region. Given the harsh climate and the enormous amount of water required to maintain significant production, Gulf countries have resorted to importing the vast majority of their food stock. But there may be a benefit to thinking small when it comes to crops, by encouraging smallholdings and allotments in urban spaces.
As The National reported yesterday, staff at the Dubai Electricity and Water Authority’s (Dewa) building in Al Quoz have started an urban farming project. Taking advantage of their roof space, the staff have cultivated a 2,500-square-metre garden. The “farm” features a 300-square-metre vegetable plot that has more than 400 plants. A recent crop production cycle yielded 200 cauliflowers and the same number of cabbages – not enough to stock a supermarket, but ample enough to sell locally.
The garden also produces the fringe benefit of lowering the host building’s electricity bill, by significantly cooling the roof area and lowering the indoor temperature and reducing the need for air conditioning. The Dewa gardeners keep a close eye on water consumption in an effort to farm sustainably.
From conflict zones like Gaza City to mega cities in India, small allotments provide respite from the chaos of urban life while entrenching a sense of independence and community. In recent years, this model of urban agriculture has gained popularity around the world, empowering individuals and communities. Advances in technology have also helped make urban farming easier.
There is no doubt that urban farming poses a number of specific challenges for our region, not the least of which are the high average temperature and the scarcity of water. But there is an opportunity to take the idea of urban farming off the rooftop and into the side street, using small plots on empty lots. Clearly, this would need approval from the authorities and would need to be properly managed, but small allotment spaces could be developed to produce local food and foster a greater sense of community.
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Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
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The UN General Assembly President in quotes:
YEMEN: “The developments we have seen are promising. We really hope that the parties are going to respect the agreed ceasefire. I think that the sense of really having the political will to have a peace process is vital. There is a little bit of hope and the role that the UN has played is very important.”
PALESTINE: “There is no easy fix. We need to find the political will and comply with the resolutions that we have agreed upon.”
OMAN: “It is a very important country in our system. They have a very important role to play in terms of the balance and peace process of that particular part of the world, in that their position is neutral. That is why it is very important to have a dialogue with the Omani authorities.”
REFORM OF THE SECURITY COUNCIL: “This is complicated and it requires time. It is dependent on the effort that members want to put into the process. It is a process that has been going on for 25 years. That process is slow but the issue is huge. I really hope we will see some progress during my tenure.”
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