Abu Dhabi: Dates are known to be the UAE’s favourite fruit, but dwindling groundwater reserves in Abu Dhabi may threaten the long-term health of farms in the emirate that produce them.
Studies conducted by the Environment Agency Abu Dhabi (EAD) indicate that levels of groundwater are falling by up to five metres each year in the most agriculturally intensive areas. And this is a concern because most of Abu Dhabi’s dates are nourished with groundwater, Mansour Al Tamimi, groundwater scientist at the EAD, told Gulf News.
“Dates are an integral part of our culture, and play a major role in supporting strategic farming activities. But over-pumping and waste of groundwater in an arid region like the UAE means that aquifers are being depleted very rapidly,” Al Tamimi said.
While it is not possible to increase the low rate of natural recharge through rainfall, farmers can do their bit by using water sustainably. To that end, EAD representatives reached out to them at the Liwa Date Festival in the emirate’s Western Region.
According to statistics released by the EAD last year, groundwater makes up 94 per cent of the water used for agriculture in Abu Dhabi. Of this, the irrigation of date palm trees consumes about a third of the groundwater used by major crops.
Farmers may not be able to monitor the drop in groundwater level, but many have noticed distinct changes in the quality of produce and health of date palms. These occur because water salinity rises as groundwater levels fall.
“Dates tend to be less rounded and leaves are less green. Moreover, yields tend to drop significantly as water becomes more saline,” the scientist explained.
Closing the well after watering, and installing efficient irrigation systems are just some of the ways farmers can ensure that the emirate’s date industry continues to thrive, he added.
At the Liwa Festival, the authority handed out brochures on sustainable water use in a number of languages, and engaged farmers in discussions about the link between groundwater reserves and produce quality. It is also encouraging people to report groundwater sale, which is illegal in the UAE.
