AD food safety body marks Arab Palm Day

In celebration of Arab Palm Day, observed annually on 15th September, the Abu Dhabi Agriculture and Food Safety Authority (ADAFSA) has reaffirmed its dedication to advancing the palm sector and promoting sustainable agricultural practices across the Emirate.

Through a suite of targeted programmes and services, ADAFSA continues to support local farmers in enhancing date quality, adopting environmentally sound pest control methods, and transitioning towards organic cultivation, and encouraging the adoption of high-yield commercial varieties.

ADAFSA’s strategic initiatives include the Integrated Palm Pest Management Programme, which employs cost-effective and environmentally safe techniques to control infestations, and the Palm and Date Best Practices Programme, which guides farmers through pre- and post-harvest operations. These efforts reflect the Authority’s commitment to safeguarding the cultural and strategic significance of the blessed palm tree within the national food security agenda.

Since the beginning of 2024, ADAFSA has implemented extensive pest control operations benefiting over 6,592,272 palm trees. A total of 344,900 red palm weevils and 148,300 stalk and stem borers have been captured using pheromone and light traps deployed across farms in the Emirate. Additionally, 2,278,698 palm trees received targeted treatment against lesser date moth and date palm dust mites, significantly reducing their impact on date production.

WAM