ABU DHABI // Thousands of palm seeds have been distributed to farmers in a bid to improve date production.
Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, distributed 10,000 tissue palm seedlings at the Liwa Festival of Dates, state news agency Wam said last night.
The seedlings, given to citizen farmers, were produced from a refined variety of dates produced in labs of the Studies and Research Unit of Palm and Dates, which is affiliated with UAE University.
Sheikh Mohammed also gave Dh2million to the Management Committee of Festivals and Cultural and Heritage, the organisers of the Liwa Festival.
"The exhibitors praised the initiative of Sheikh Mohammed to encourage them to improve their farm production, pointing out that planting a palm tree in the UAE is considered a cornerstone in the conscience and history of the people of the region, in addition to what it represents in food security," Wam said.
"They emphasised the wise leadership of the UAE has always been at the forefront in providing all aspects of support to farmers, especially palm planting and promotion, development and increased planting areas, and achieving self-sufficiency and diversification of income sources."
