Farmers, agricultural companies and researchers across the country will compete for an annual award with BD40,000 in cash prizes.
The fifth edition of the King Hamad Prize for Agricultural Development was announced yesterday under the patronage of National Initiative for Agricultural Development (NIAD) consultative council president Her Royal Highness Princess Sabeeka bint Ibrahim Al Khalifa.
The prize is made up of three categories – Best Agricultural Project, Best Bahraini Farmer and Best Agricultural Research and Studies.
The award aims to help Bahraini farmers as well as researchers contribute to maintaining sustainability and development as part of the kingdom’s Economic Vision 2030.
Food security is another key pillar that is being promoted via this annual recognition which also seeks to motivate young Bahrainis to work in the agricultural sector and use modern and smart agricultural techniques.
“The prize aims to preserve agricultural ecosystems, increase agricultural output and its contribution to the GDP, help achieve relative food security, and promote innovation and the use of modern agricultural techniques,” said a statement.
The Best Agricultural Project Prize comprises two sub-categories.
The first sub-category is for the Best Production Project that produces outstanding agricultural crops or ornamental plants. Projects will be recognised for their use of modern agricultural technology, smart marketing methods, their commitment to protecting the local environment, and to enhancing the capabilities of Bahraini workforce and increasing their participation in the agricultural sector.
The second sub-category is for the Best Agricultural Support Project. It recognises their role in supporting and sustaining productive agricultural projects, and increasing the diversity of products and the number of workers in this sector.
Such projects include engineering and agricultural consultancies and designers and builders of irrigation systems and greenhouses.
It also includes producers and sellers of seeds, fertilisers and nutrients, agricultural pest control, and renewable energy applications and any food processing projects that use local produce.
The second category in the King Hamad Prize for Agricultural Development is awarded to the Best Bahraini Farmer in recognition of his or her remarkable achievement.
The award aims to increase the number of professional Bahraini farmers of different age groups, encourage them to innovate, utilise modern technologies, and compete to produce the best agricultural output.
The third category of the award recognises achievement in Agricultural Research and Studies. It aims to motivate researchers to focus their efforts on agricultural development, sustainability and food security in dry areas in general and island countries in particular.
The scope of the prize in this category has been extended to include researchers from all around the world.
Several fields of studies and research have been proposed, including palm tree research, the safe use of treated water in agricultural production and ways to ecological restoration of agricultural lands in dry areas.
Other fields cover innovation in agricultural techniques, crop protection research, research related to agriculture and climate change in dry areas, and post-harvest processes and agricultural waste management.
“The total value of the King Hamad Prize for Agricultural Development is BD40,000,” added the statement.
“Two winners from the two sub-categories of the Best Agricultural Project will be awarded a cash prize of BD10,000.
“Two farmers will be honoured in the Best Bahraini Farmer prize, and each of them will receive a cash prize of BD5,000.”
In Agricultural Research and Studies, two researchers will be honoured, with each receiving a cash prize of BD5,000.
The winners of the awards are expected to be announced in May next year following a review by a specialised panel of judges.
The GDN reported in October last year that two brothers, Mirza and Murtadha Al Ojaimi, were declared ‘best farmers’ and received BD5,000 each in the fourth edition of the award.
Municipalities Affairs and Agriculture Minister Wael Al Mubarak presented an award to Mirza Al Ojaimi last year
They run their own farms in Hoorat A’ali and Barbar.
In the research and studies category, Emirati botanist Synan AbuQamar and Spanish biologist Damià Barceló were announced as winners, and also received BD5,000 each.
The winners in the agricultural project category, Peninsula Farms and Agricultural Service Supply Agency, each won BD10,000 in cash.
Judges looked at the use of modern agricultural technology, effective marketing methods, commitment to environment protection and use of local Bahraini talent.
The NIAD encourages all investors in agricultural projects, farmers and scientific researchers to apply for prize by signing up on its website, www.niadbh.com
&uuid=(email))