UAE farmers are confident of reaping the rewards of an enterprising initiative providing home-grown produce with a prime spot in the online shop window.
Under a new partnership between noon.com and the Khalifa Fund for Economic Development, local farms will be allocated dedicated space on the popular ‘noon Daily’ grocery delivery service.
Farmers and agriculturists said the programme would play an important role in maturing the country’s fresh produce scene.
It would also encourage more farmers to grow items which are not so readily available on the UAE market such as bok choy, okra and leafy greens.
As a local AgTech company, we believe that such initiatives play a big role in maturing the UAE's produce scene
“This initiative gives farmers the option to branch out and explore and expand their product offering,” said Yazen Al Kodmani, operations manager at Emirates Bio Farm.
“Some farmers here may not be tech savvy therefore they often lose out when it comes to getting the most out of their produce.
“Some try to make good quality local fruits and vegetables but when they sell it wholesale to supermarkets the price is usually set in stone.
“For example, a tomato will be priced at Dh2 because it is local, no matter the quality.
“That has impacted farmers producing good quality produce because there is just no incentive.
“By allowing them to sell straight to consumer they can set their own price and in turn they will be more inclined to produce high quality produce.”
As part of the scheme, participating small and medium-sized enterprises in Abu Dhabi will be offered a two-month commission-free period for online sales on the noon.com website. They will also get one per cent credit back on their sales for three months.
Currently, Emirates Bio Farm produces about 60 varieties of fruits and vegetables including tomatoes, cucumbers and capsicums.
While it already sells to both the wholesale and direct-to-consumer market, Mr Al Kodmani said initiatives that support local food producers would lead to a boon in the UAE’s agricultural environment.
“We live in a country which has a very diverse expatriate population,” he said.
“That population breeds a demand for specific products, products that consumers would usually buy back home.
“Right now there is a lack of items such as kale, okra and other leafy greens that are grown locally.
“This kind of produce is popular in Asian cuisine so if we show consumers we can grow them here, then demand will grow.”
Haifa Abdullah Alrasheed, brand manager at Madar Farms in Abu Dhabi and Dubai, said a direct online gateway to consumers is vital when selling fresh, home-grown produce.
“As a local AgTech company, we believe that such initiatives play a big role in maturing the UAE's produce scene,” she said.
“This contribution will not only go a long way in helping Madar Farms, but also in establishing the UAE as the region's food production hub.
“We are already on noon Daily and we offer a selection of our locally grown, high-quality microgreens and mixed packed salads.”
Madar Farms is on its third year of operation. It uses advanced farming technologies to produce a wide variety of fresh produce, locally.
What we eat affects both our health and the planet. Where food is grown, what fertilisers are used, what is fed to animals, and how food is transported and packaged, contribute to the eco footprint of what we consume.
In recent years, the UAE's Ministry of Climate Change and Environment has sought to boost local food production by promoting the use of state-of-the-art farming methods and driving private sector investments into sustainable agriculture.
Amjad Al-Akhal, farm manager at Emirates Hydroponics Farm in Abu Dhabi, said it will be signing up to the Khalifa Fund and noon.com initiative.
“Any kind of business support that will help our products reach more clients, especially in a pandemic, is definitely something we want to be a part of,” he said.
“Currently, we partner with two companies to get out products to customers, Fresh On Table and Farms Gate.
“To expand your online reach can be expensive but the bonus with this programme is that we will save fees on online registration and service fees.
“We can also sell more produce via direct retail than wholesale.”
War 2
Director: Ayan Mukerji
Stars: Hrithik Roshan, NTR, Kiara Advani, Ashutosh Rana
Rating: 2/5
More from Rashmee Roshan Lall
The Limehouse Golem
Director: Juan Carlos Medina
Cast: Olivia Cooke, Bill Nighy, Douglas Booth
Three stars
Nepotism is the name of the game
Salman Khan’s father, Salim Khan, is one of Bollywood’s most legendary screenwriters. Through his partnership with co-writer Javed Akhtar, Salim is credited with having paved the path for the Indian film industry’s blockbuster format in the 1970s. Something his son now rules the roost of. More importantly, the Salim-Javed duo also created the persona of the “angry young man” for Bollywood megastar Amitabh Bachchan in the 1970s, reflecting the angst of the average Indian. In choosing to be the ordinary man’s “hero” as opposed to a thespian in new Bollywood, Salman Khan remains tightly linked to his father’s oeuvre. Thanks dad.
The specs
Engine: 3.0-litre flat-six twin-turbocharged
Transmission: eight-speed PDK automatic
Power: 445bhp
Torque: 530Nm
Price: Dh474,600
On Sale: Now
WHAT IS A BLACK HOLE?
1. Black holes are objects whose gravity is so strong not even light can escape their pull
2. They can be created when massive stars collapse under their own weight
3. Large black holes can also be formed when smaller ones collide and merge
4. The biggest black holes lurk at the centre of many galaxies, including our own
5. Astronomers believe that when the universe was very young, black holes affected how galaxies formed
The stats
Ship name: MSC Bellissima
Ship class: Meraviglia Class
Delivery date: February 27, 2019
Gross tonnage: 171,598 GT
Passenger capacity: 5,686
Crew members: 1,536
Number of cabins: 2,217
Length: 315.3 metres
Maximum speed: 22.7 knots (42kph)
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
RESULTS
Argentina 4 Haiti 0
Peru 2 Scotland 0
Panama 0 Northern Ireland 0
Essentials
The flights
Etihad (etihad.ae) and flydubai (flydubai.com) fly direct to Baku three times a week from Dh1,250 return, including taxes.
The stay
A seven-night “Fundamental Detox” programme at the Chenot Palace (chenotpalace.com/en) costs from €3,000 (Dh13,197) per person, including taxes, accommodation, 3 medical consultations, 2 nutritional consultations, a detox diet, a body composition analysis, a bio-energetic check-up, four Chenot bio-energetic treatments, six Chenot energetic massages, six hydro-aromatherapy treatments, six phyto-mud treatments, six hydro-jet treatments and access to the gym, indoor pool, sauna and steam room. Additional tests and treatments cost extra.
Results
6.30pm Al Maktoum Challenge Round-3 Group 1 (PA) US$100,000 (Dirt) 2,000m, Winner Bandar, Fernando Jara (jockey), Majed Al Jahouri (trainer).
7.05pm Meydan Classic Listed (TB) $175,000 (Turf) 1,600m, Winner Well Of Wisdom, William Buick, Charlie Appleby.
7.40pm Handicap (TB) $135,000 (T) 2,000m, Winner Star Safari, Mickael Barzalona, Charlie Appleby.
8.15pm Handicap (TB) $135,000 (D) 1,600m, Winner Moqarrar, Fabrice Veron, Erwan Charpy.
8.50pm Nad Al Sheba Trophy Group 2 (TB) $300,000 (T) 2,810m, Winner Secret Advisor, William Buick, Charlie Appleby.
9.25pm Curlin Stakes Listed (TB) $175,000 (D) 2,000m, Winner Parsimony, William Buick, Doug O’Neill.
10pm Handicap (TB) $135,000 (T) 2,000m, Winner Simsir, Ronan Whelan, Michael Halford.
10.35pm Handicap (TB) $175,000 (T) 1,400m, Winner Velorum, Mickael Barzalona, Charlie Appleby.
Five personal finance podcasts from The National
To help you get started, tune into these Pocketful of Dirham episodes
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Balance is essential to happiness, health and wealth
·
What is a portfolio stress test?
·
What are NFTs and why are auction houses interested?
·
How gamers are getting rich by earning cryptocurrencies
·
Should you buy or rent a home in the UAE?
Volvo ES90 Specs
Engine: Electric single motor (96kW), twin motor (106kW) and twin motor performance (106kW)
Power: 333hp, 449hp, 680hp
Torque: 480Nm, 670Nm, 870Nm
On sale: Later in 2025 or early 2026, depending on region
Price: Exact regional pricing TBA
Conflict, drought, famine
Estimates of the number of deaths caused by the famine range from 400,000 to 1 million, according to a document prepared for the UK House of Lords in 2024.
It has been claimed that the policies of the Ethiopian government, which took control after deposing Emperor Haile Selassie in a military-led revolution in 1974, contributed to the scale of the famine.
Dr Miriam Bradley, senior lecturer in humanitarian studies at the University of Manchester, has argued that, by the early 1980s, “several government policies combined to cause, rather than prevent, a famine which lasted from 1983 to 1985. Mengistu’s government imposed Stalinist-model agricultural policies involving forced collectivisation and villagisation [relocation of communities into planned villages].
The West became aware of the catastrophe through a series of BBC News reports by journalist Michael Buerk in October 1984 describing a “biblical famine” and containing graphic images of thousands of people, including children, facing starvation.
Band Aid
Bob Geldof, singer with the Irish rock group The Boomtown Rats, formed Band Aid in response to the horrific images shown in the news broadcasts.
With Midge Ure of the band Ultravox, he wrote the hit charity single Do They Know it’s Christmas in December 1984, featuring a string of high-profile musicians.
Following the single’s success, the idea to stage a rock concert evolved.
Live Aid was a series of simultaneous concerts that took place at Wembley Stadium in London, John F Kennedy Stadium in Philadelphia, the US, and at various other venues across the world.
The combined event was broadcast to an estimated worldwide audience of 1.5 billion.
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
Company%20profile
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Killing of Qassem Suleimani
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KINGDOM%20OF%20THE%20PLANET%20OF%20THE%20APES
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PROFILE OF STARZPLAY
Date started: 2014
Founders: Maaz Sheikh, Danny Bates
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Entertainment/Streaming Video On Demand
Number of employees: 125
Investors/Investment amount: $125 million. Major investors include Starz/Lionsgate, State Street, SEQ and Delta Partners
Everybody%20Loves%20Touda
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Kill%20
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Tips for avoiding trouble online
- Do not post incorrect information and beware of fake news
- Do not publish or repost racist or hate speech, yours or anyone else’s
- Do not incite violence and be careful how to phrase what you want to say
- Do not defame anyone. Have a difference of opinion with someone? Don’t attack them on social media
- Do not forget your children and monitor their online activities
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The five pillars of Islam
Tips for newlyweds to better manage finances
All couples are unique and have to create a financial blueprint that is most suitable for their relationship, says Vijay Valecha, chief investment officer at Century Financial. He offers his top five tips for couples to better manage their finances.
Discuss your assets and debts: When married, it’s important to understand each other’s personal financial situation. It’s necessary to know upfront what each party brings to the table, as debts and assets affect spending habits and joint loan qualifications. Discussing all aspects of their finances as a couple prevents anyone from being blindsided later.
Decide on the financial/saving goals: Spouses should independently list their top goals and share their lists with one another to shape a joint plan. Writing down clear goals will help them determine how much to save each month, how much to put aside for short-term goals, and how they will reach their long-term financial goals.
Set a budget: A budget can keep the couple be mindful of their income and expenses. With a monthly budget, couples will know exactly how much they can spend in a category each month, how much they have to work with and what spending areas need to be evaluated.
Decide who manages what: When it comes to handling finances, it’s a good idea to decide who manages what. For example, one person might take on the day-to-day bills, while the other tackles long-term investments and retirement plans.
Money date nights: Talking about money should be a healthy, ongoing conversation and couples should not wait for something to go wrong. They should set time aside every month to talk about future financial decisions and see the progress they’ve made together towards accomplishing their goals.
