Enhancing date palm integrated pest management and agricultural extension and technology transfer systems in Abu Dhabi

There is a great need to enhance the efficiency of extension activities provided by the Farmers Services Center in Abu Dhabi to implement reforms in farming practices and help date palm farmers grow and market their products in a challenging environment exacerbated by extreme weather, dwindling water resources and increased diseases incidence.

This project provides appropriate IPM options for Red palm weevil and Dust mite, in particular, improving agricultural extension and technology transfer systems in Abu Dhabi, suggesting the Biological control measures for vegetable crops to ADFCA and ADFSC and enhancing ADFCA and ADFSC staff knowledge and capacity on Date palm IPM and their technology transfer and extension system.

The project will review the efficiency of the existing agricultural extension system and technology transfer approaches used in ADFCA as well as a socio-economic impact study of extension activities on the farms' income. It will develop an e-diary software application to enhance extension activities and will provide technical advisory notes for extension agents in order to bring improvements to the system. This will contribute to CGIAR's strategic goals e.g. increased income (1.3) with more livelihood opportunities (1.3.2) for farmers and more efficient use of inputs (1.3.4) in agriculture. Based on present date palm IPM activities, recommendations for its enhancement and experts' advice on future research priorities, a full fledge research program will be devised to improve agricultural practices (2.3). Moreover, technical extension handouts and field guides for managing date palm, cash crops and forages will be used in the capacity building of Abu Dhabi Food Control Authority ADFCA & Abu Dhabi Farmers services center ADFSC researchers which will eventually contribute to CGIAR strategic goal D. National partner and beneficiaries enabled (D. 1). It will enhance researchers capacity at individual scale through training and exchange (D. 1.2) and is more likely to increase capacity for innovation in ADFCA & ADFSC. Through a precision geoinformatics system for pest management, the project is aimed at the adoption of biological control measures to ensure improved food safety (2.2) and improved health through these agricultural practices (2.3) under the CGIAR strategic goal.