Farmer Humaid Al Zaabi, 52, a retired government employee, has been the leading Emirati producer of organic fertiliser and vermicompost in the UAE for more than seven years.
He owns Sara Nursery in Ajman, producing 150 to 200 tonnes of organic fertiliser every month to enhance soil productivity and reduce environmental pollution caused by excessive use of chemical alternatives.
The fertiliser is produced by recycling organic waste such as fruit and vegetable scraps, eggshells, and livestock manure, but Mr Al Zaabi is also vermicomposting, which involves earthworms converting organic waste into nutrient-rich manure.
"I've loved farming and nature since childhood,” Mr Al Zaabi told The National.
“My interest in agriculture grew through reading and joining farming communities and my goal has always been to support and protect the environment, not for commercial purposes.”
A 20kg bag, originally priced at Dh20, is now available at a discounted rate of Dh5 throughout the summer to encourage home gardening.
Vermicomposting
Mr Al Zaabi said the vermicomposting process involves placing worms in regular soil covered with cardboard layers, which are replaced with egg cartons as a form of recycling.
The worms are fed a mix of vegetable and fruit waste, which they excrete as organic fertiliser.
This soil is then processed in a cylindrical machine to separate the ready fertiliser from unprocessed waste and the worms themselves. The finished product is bagged and sold at Dh200 but is now offered at Dh50 as part of Humaid's summer discount scheme.
Unprocessed soil and worms are returned to the beds to continue the composting process.
“This contributes to both agricultural productivity and environmental conservation,” he said.
A self-taught farmer, Mr Al Zaabi attributes his success to the enthusiasm he has for agriculture. His journey into organic fertiliser production began as he worked on a small plot between his father's and brother's homes in the Mushrif area almost 10 years ago.
“One of the significant challenges I faced, like many farmers, was finding effective fertilisers for my plants,” he said.
“It's important to know that plants, just like humans, enjoy and benefit from what nourishes them.”
He said he started looking for a solution and his search led him to experiment with producing his own fertiliser.
A winning formula
Nearly seven years ago, his efforts caught the attention of Sheikh Humaid bin Rashid Al Nuaimi, Ruler of Ajman, who visited Mr Al Zaabi's first farm.
Three months later, he was given the current plot for his nursery, which he named Sara, after his grandmother.
“Ajman Municipality supplies us with vegetable and fruit waste and eggshells almost daily, while livestock and animal farm owners provide animal waste,” he said.
“We dry these in an open area on the farm to convert them into compost, which we use on our farm and sell to other farmers.”
Engineer Khalid Al Hosani, executive director of the Public Health and Environment Sector at Ajman Municipality and Planning Department, said the department supports all pioneering initiatives in sustainability.
Among such initiatives that aim to preserve the environment and promote recycling is the project by Mr Al Zaabi, he said.
“The department has supplied Humaid's nursery with inedible organic materials from vegetables, fruits, and agricultural waste to continue recycling them by mixing them with animal waste to produce compost,” he said.
“At the department we encourage food waste recycling initiatives instead of wasting it or letting it become a source of methane emissions, a greenhouse gas that contributes to global warming.”
A relationship with nature
Mr Al Zaabi believes his mission is also to educate the community about the benefits of organic waste recycling.
“I don't just sell the fertiliser that I produce, I also teach people how to make use of fruit and vegetable waste at home,” he said.
“I conduct lectures for farm visitors, and workshops for government employees in Ajman, Sharjah, and Umm Al Quwain, and pupils. Two years ago I began providing space on the farm for events to connect people with nature and encourage home gardening.”
Mr Al Zaabi believes that if every household planted and harvested even 10kg of fruit and vegetables, it would promote healthy eating and contribute to food security.
“The moment of picking the fruit is the strongest factor that enhances a person's relationship with nature, and this is what I aim to help achieve,” he said.
He is also venturing into rice cultivation, a project he started about a year ago with seeds from India.
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Red flags
- Promises of high, fixed or 'guaranteed' returns.
- Unregulated structured products or complex investments often used to bypass traditional safeguards.
- Lack of clear information, vague language, no access to audited financials.
- Overseas companies targeting investors in other jurisdictions - this can make legal recovery difficult.
- Hard-selling tactics - creating urgency, offering 'exclusive' deals.
Courtesy: Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching
Dates for the diary
To mark Bodytree’s 10th anniversary, the coming season will be filled with celebratory activities:
- September 21 Anyone interested in becoming a certified yoga instructor can sign up for a 250-hour course in Yoga Teacher Training with Jacquelene Sadek. It begins on September 21 and will take place over the course of six weekends.
- October 18 to 21 International yoga instructor, Yogi Nora, will be visiting Bodytree and offering classes.
- October 26 to November 4 International pilates instructor Courtney Miller will be on hand at the studio, offering classes.
- November 9 Bodytree is hosting a party to celebrate turning 10, and everyone is invited. Expect a day full of free classes on the grounds of the studio.
- December 11 Yogeswari, an advanced certified Jivamukti teacher, will be visiting the studio.
- February 2, 2018 Bodytree will host its 4th annual yoga market.
SPECS
Engine: Two-litre four-cylinder turbo
Power: 235hp
Torque: 350Nm
Transmission: Nine-speed automatic
Price: From Dh167,500 ($45,000)
On sale: Now
'THE WORST THING YOU CAN EAT'
Trans fat is typically found in fried and baked goods, but you may be consuming more than you think.
Powdered coffee creamer, microwave popcorn and virtually anything processed with a crust is likely to contain it, as this guide from Mayo Clinic outlines:
Baked goods - Most cakes, cookies, pie crusts and crackers contain shortening, which is usually made from partially hydrogenated vegetable oil. Ready-made frosting is another source of trans fat.
Snacks - Potato, corn and tortilla chips often contain trans fat. And while popcorn can be a healthy snack, many types of packaged or microwave popcorn use trans fat to help cook or flavour the popcorn.
Fried food - Foods that require deep frying — french fries, doughnuts and fried chicken — can contain trans fat from the oil used in the cooking process.
Refrigerator dough - Products such as canned biscuits and cinnamon rolls often contain trans fat, as do frozen pizza crusts.
Creamer and margarine - Nondairy coffee creamer and stick margarines also may contain partially hydrogenated vegetable oils.
Specs
Engine: 51.5kW electric motor
Range: 400km
Power: 134bhp
Torque: 175Nm
Price: From Dh98,800
Available: Now
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PREMIER LEAGUE STATS
Romelu Lukaku's goalscoring statistics in the Premier League
Season/club/appearances (substitute)/goals
2011/12 Chelsea: 8(7) - 0
2012/13 West Brom (loan): 35(15) - 17
2013/14 Chelsea: 2(2) - 0
2013/14 Everton (loan): 31(2) - 15
2014/15 Everton: 36(4) - 10
2015/16 Everton: 37(1) - 18
2016/17 Everton: 37(1) - 25
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Basquiat in Abu Dhabi
One of Basquiat’s paintings, the vibrant Cabra (1981–82), now hangs in Louvre Abu Dhabi temporarily, on loan from the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi.
The latter museum is not open physically, but has assembled a collection and puts together a series of events called Talking Art, such as this discussion, moderated by writer Chaedria LaBouvier.
It's something of a Basquiat season in Abu Dhabi at the moment. Last week, The Radiant Child, a documentary on Basquiat was shown at Manarat Al Saadiyat, and tonight (April 18) the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi is throwing the re-creation of a party tonight, of the legendary Canal Zone party thrown in 1979, which epitomised the collaborative scene of the time. It was at Canal Zone that Basquiat met prominent members of the art world and moved from unknown graffiti artist into someone in the spotlight.
“We’ve invited local resident arists, we’ll have spray cans at the ready,” says curator Maisa Al Qassemi of the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi.
Guggenheim Abu Dhabi's Canal Zone Remix is at Manarat Al Saadiyat, Thursday April 18, from 8pm. Free entry to all. Basquiat's Cabra is on view at Louvre Abu Dhabi until October
GAC GS8 Specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 248hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 400Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 9.1L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh149,900
TEACHERS' PAY - WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
Pay varies significantly depending on the school, its rating and the curriculum. Here's a rough guide as of January 2021:
- top end schools tend to pay Dh16,000-17,000 a month - plus a monthly housing allowance of up to Dh6,000. These tend to be British curriculum schools rated 'outstanding' or 'very good', followed by American schools
- average salary across curriculums and skill levels is about Dh10,000, recruiters say
- it is becoming more common for schools to provide accommodation, sometimes in an apartment block with other teachers, rather than hand teachers a cash housing allowance
- some strong performing schools have cut back on salaries since the pandemic began, sometimes offering Dh16,000 including the housing allowance, which reflects the slump in rental costs, and sheer demand for jobs
- maths and science teachers are most in demand and some schools will pay up to Dh3,000 more than other teachers in recognition of their technical skills
- at the other end of the market, teachers in some Indian schools, where fees are lower and competition among applicants is intense, can be paid as low as Dh3,000 per month
- in Indian schools, it has also become common for teachers to share residential accommodation, living in a block with colleagues
Indoor cricket in a nutshell
Indoor Cricket World Cup - Sept 16-20, Insportz, Dubai
16 Indoor cricket matches are 16 overs per side
8 There are eight players per team
9 There have been nine Indoor Cricket World Cups for men. Australia have won every one.
5 Five runs are deducted from the score when a wickets falls
4 Batsmen bat in pairs, facing four overs per partnership
Scoring In indoor cricket, runs are scored by way of both physical and bonus runs. Physical runs are scored by both batsmen completing a run from one crease to the other. Bonus runs are scored when the ball hits a net in different zones, but only when at least one physical run is score.
Zones
A Front net, behind the striker and wicketkeeper: 0 runs
B Side nets, between the striker and halfway down the pitch: 1 run
C Side nets between halfway and the bowlers end: 2 runs
D Back net: 4 runs on the bounce, 6 runs on the full
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 261hp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 405Nm at 1,750-3,500rpm
Transmission: 9-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 6.9L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh117,059
Rocketman
Director: Dexter Fletcher
Starring: Taron Egerton, Richard Madden, Jamie Bell
Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
The five pillars of Islam
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Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Read more about the coronavirus
TRAP
Starring: Josh Hartnett, Saleka Shyamalan, Ariel Donaghue
Director: M Night Shyamalan
Rating: 3/5
The five pillars of Islam
Honeymoonish
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Zayed Sustainability Prize
More from Neighbourhood Watch:
MATCH INFO
Manchester City 3 (Sterling 46', De Bruyne 65', Gundogan 70')
Aston Villa 0
Red card: Fernandinho (Manchester City)
Man of the Match: Raheem Sterling (Manchester City)
What the law says
Micro-retirement is not a recognised concept or employment status under Federal Decree Law No. 33 of 2021 on the Regulation of Labour Relations (as amended) (UAE Labour Law). As such, it reflects a voluntary work-life balance practice, rather than a recognised legal employment category, according to Dilini Loku, senior associate for law firm Gateley Middle East.
“Some companies may offer formal sabbatical policies or career break programmes; however, beyond such arrangements, there is no automatic right or statutory entitlement to extended breaks,” she explains.
“Any leave taken beyond statutory entitlements, such as annual leave, is typically regarded as unpaid leave in accordance with Article 33 of the UAE Labour Law. While employees may legally take unpaid leave, such requests are subject to the employer’s discretion and require approval.”
If an employee resigns to pursue micro-retirement, the employment contract is terminated, and the employer is under no legal obligation to rehire the employee in the future unless specific contractual agreements are in place (such as return-to-work arrangements), which are generally uncommon, Ms Loku adds.
Jetour T1 specs
Engine: 2-litre turbocharged
Power: 254hp
Torque: 390Nm
Price: From Dh126,000
Available: Now
NO OTHER LAND
Director: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham, Rachel Szor, Hamdan Ballal
Stars: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham
Rating: 3.5/5
Ticket prices
General admission Dh295 (under-three free)
Buy a four-person Family & Friends ticket and pay for only three tickets, so the fourth family member is free
Buy tickets at: wbworldabudhabi.com/en/tickets
