Abu Dhabi: A member of the Federal National Council on Tuesday demanded better management of water resources by the government so that these can be used for a wider variety of applications to reduce the UAE’s carbon footprint and energy demand while enhancing food and water security.
Ali Eisa Al Nuaimi, a member from Ajman, said the House had repeatedly pressed for effective management of water resources, building of dams and wastewater treatment by the Government.
Dr Rashid Ahmad Bin Fahd, Minister of Environment and Water, told the House sustainable and efficient use of natural resources such as water and soil and reducing water consumption for farming are important components of the environmental dimension of the UAE’s farming policy.
Groundwater accounts for 95 per cent of all irrigation water in farms, which leads to quicker depletion of groundwater, whose recharge rate is a meagre 1.3 per cent of all water extracted. Twenty per cent of all desalinated water produced here is used in irrigation. Desalinated water is quite expensive. Consumption of water for agriculture and afforestation rose to 76 per cent of all water consumed, with 48 per cent of it being used for farm irrigation, 23 per cent for afforestation and five per cent for gardens and parks.
The ministry has have now banned cultivation of Rhodes grass, which was a popular feed for livestock, and introduced alternative feeds.
The minister said the UAE is promoting the use of state-of-the-art technologies in agriculture. Latest technology platforms in agriculture, such as hydroponics, aeroponics and greenhouses are currently used in Abu Dhabi.
