Dubai: Students, families and the workforce in the emirate have cultivated more than 300kg of over 50 varieties of fruits and vegetables as part of Dubai Municipality’s ‘Grow Your Food’ campaign.
The municipality had launched the second edition of the green initiative in September last year, encouraging Dubai residents to cultivate vegetables and fruits in balconies, terraces and backyards of their homes.
“This year, the participation from educational institutions has been tremendous,” said Khalid Mohammad Sharif Al Awadhi, assistant director-general of Dubai Municipality for Health, Safety and Environment Control.
“The number of schools increased from 15 to 50, and the overall number of participants increased from 100 to 1,600. They have cultivated more than 300kg of crops, which include more than 50 different varieties of fruits and vegetables,” he stated in a press release.
The four categories in the competition included educational institutions, government and private companies, centres for people with special needs, and the emirate’s residents.
With the contest coming to a close this month-end, the jury has shortlisted 10 contestants from each category and the final winner from each category will be declared soon, the civic body’s Food Safety Department said.
Al Awadhi said the campaign also received many international recognitions and appreciation letters including that of the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations, US Department of Agriculture, US Consulate General in Dubai, and the Western Australian Trade Office in the Middle East.
