In a move aimed at emphasising the importance of local produce in meeting the market needs and enhancing its competitiveness, Abu Dhabi Agriculture and Food Safety Authority (ADAFSA) has directed all the major stores and hypermarkets to allocate dedicated zones for local agri-products.

 

The move comes following the directives of Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Presidential Affairs, and Chairman of ADAFSA, taken in coordination with its strategic partners from various government entities.

 

The Authority affirmed that several outlets in the emirate have already started to allocate spaces for displaying local products. 

 

Since Thursday morning, expressions of pride in national production and local product logos adorned dozens of Abu Dhabi’s markets. These displayed hundreds of tonnes of vegetables, fruits, dates, meat, fish, dairy products, eggs and honey produced in the emirate’s farms, remarked Saeed Al Bahri Salem Al Ameri, the Director General of ADAFSA

 

These directives enhance food security system and affirm the importance of local production in establishing a diversified and sustainable national economy based on knowledge, innovation and technology, he stated. 

 

"This would be realised by achieving comprehensive development in all sectors, including the agricultural one, due to its importance in achieving food security and social well-being by enabling customers’ access to fresh and high-quality local food products at all times while ensuring the highest food safety standards," said Al Ameri.

 

In addition to offering logistics services to local farmers and livestock breeders, to help market their various products and increase returns, ADAFSA provides guidance to farm owners and workers, and encourages them apply the best practices to improve production operations, he added.-TradeArabia News Service