EFFORTS are underway to increase production capacity of agricultural nurseries across Bahrain as part of an integrated national afforestation plan.
The Agricultural Incubator Centre in Hoorat A’ali has produced 20,000 seedlings in two greenhouses, which could be used to increase plantations in parks, streets, public squares and intersections.
Details of the strategy were revealed as Municipalities Affairs and Agriculture Minister Wael Al Mubarak visited the centre as part of an inspection campaign yesterday.
Mr Al Mubarak said the ministry has prepared a comprehensive plan to boost greenery in public spaces.
“We are working on making the Agricultural Incubator Centre a hub for implementing plant experiments in Bahrain,” Mr Al Mubarak said in a statement yesterday. “The facility is also being prepared as a station to train local competencies as well as agricultural entrepreneurs.
“We hope to employ people with experience in the field to launch training programmes in soil-less agriculture as well as multiplying and caring for fruit trees and ornamental trees.”
Mr Al Mubarak added that the introduction of hi-tech agricultural practices and irrigation methods as well as plant protection techniques are among the training programmes to integrate national cadres into modern agriculture.
He stressed the importance of the system in ensuring sustainable agricultural development in Bahrain.
“Setting up of the centre – and its development using the latest agricultural technologies – follows the vision and directives of Her Royal Highness Princess Sabeeka bint Ibrahim Al Khalifa, wife of His Majesty King Hamad, Supreme Council for Women (SCW) president and the National Initiative for Agricultural Development (NIAD) advisory council chairperson,” added Mr Al Mubarak.
“The ministry is currently working on identifying the best practices for local production of crops in line with climatic conditions as well as raising the output.
“The Agricultural Incubator Centre adopts modern methods which has increased the quality and quantity of plant production.
“The centre currently produces 10 different types of seedlings out of a total of 17 varieties approved by the National Afforestation Plan.”
Mr Al Mubarak was accompanied by Animal Wealth Under-Secretary Dr Khalid Hassan, Agricultural Affairs assistant under-secretary Dr Abdulaziz Mohammed, as well as Plant Resources Department director Hussain Al Laith and engineer Al Tayeb Abbas.
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