UAE to have 40 organic farms by June 2011

"Dubai, 2nd Aug. 2010 (WAM) -- The UAE has 13 organic farms at present and is planning to have 23 more by June 2011, raising to 40 the total number of organic farms in the country. Thirteen organic farms registered with the Ministry of Environment and Water up to the half of the current year, an increase of 25 per cent over the same period last year, Eng. Mansour Al Mansouri, Director of Agricultural Development At the Ministry said. We will commence work in next September to transform 23 conventional farms into organic orchards by June 2011, he added in a statement to the Arabic daily Al Ittiahd. He indicated that the Ministry started in July to offer farmers 172 shade, cool canopies at half prices. The distribution process will continue until the end of the current year, he said. According to him, the Ministry is intending to regulate marketing of locally produced or imported organic products in partnership with the private sector. "

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