Introduction
The Sheikh Mansour Bin Zayed Agricultural Excellence Award’s second edition has been launched in the UAE. The award is named after His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice President of the UAE, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of the Presidential Court, and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Abu Dhabi Agriculture and Food Safety Authority (ADAFSA). The award aims to recognise outstanding farmers and livestock breeders in the UAE and stimulate growth in crop and livestock agricultural sectors. The award will highlight their crucial role in achieving agricultural sustainability, UAE food security, and elevating the quality of local production.
Award Categories
The award’s second cycle encompasses various categories, including main award categories, several activities associated with the Sheikh Zayed Festival in Al Wathba, as well as various other festivals organised within the award. The award is divided into four main categories. The first category features eight sub-category awards for distinguished farmers and breeders. The other four sub-category awards will be given to animal production-related sub-categories, including Productive Farm, Small-Scale Producers, Beekeepers, and Aquatic Farms. The Agricultural Innovation Category features two awards, the first for crop production and the other for animal production. Meanwhile, the Commercial Farms Category features two awards, one for commercial animal production, and the other for commercial crop production. For the award’s second edition, a new category was introduced to recognise exceptional women in agriculture.
Registration and Evaluation
Registration will be open until November 2023, after which the technical and field evaluation phase will begin. Qualifying farms will be evaluated in person according to the criteria and conditions of the award, which were devised by a specialised technical committee of experts and technicians in crop and livestock agriculture, in addition to agricultural innovation. The finalists will be announced after the preliminary evaluation results are approved, and the award ceremony to honour the winners will take place in February 2024, with the presence of all participants.
Conclusion
The Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Agricultural Excellence Award aims to emphasize the UAE’s leading role in stimulating sustainable agriculture and innovation. The award highlights the keenness of the wise leadership to honour outstanding farmers and breeders. The initiative is in line with His Highness’ dedication to encourage and honour distinguished farmers, livestock breeders, and commercial farms across the UAE. To learn more about the Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Agricultural Excellence Award, visit their website at http://www.adafsa.gov.ae.
