ABU DHABI, 2nd May, 2019 (WAM) -- The General Secretariat of the Khalifa International Award for Date Palm and Agricultural Innovation announced the opening of nominations for its 12th session in 2020, as well as for The Distinguished and Innovative Farmer Award at its 3rd session 2020, between 1st May and 30th December, 2019.
Farmers, producers, researchers, academics and lovers of dates palm and agricultural innovation at the local and International level can all compete for any one of the categories of the International Award or the Local Award.
This was announced during the press conference by the Award General Secretariat in Abu Dhabi today in the presence of Dr. Abdelouahhab Zaid, Secretary-General of the Khalifa International Award for Date Palm and Agricultural Innovation, Dr. Helal Al Kaabi, member of the Award Board of Trustees, and Musallam Obaid Ba Al Khales Al Ameri, Chief Executive Officer of Al-Foah Co.
Dr. Abdelouahhab Zaid pointed out that the graph of the award was steadily rising at various levels after eleven years, thanks to the great openness to the local, regional and international community which led to an increase in the number of candidates in various categories of the award.
He also highlighted the keenness of Sheikh Nahyan Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Tolerance and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the award, in enhancing its popularity at the domestic and international level.
He added that the total number of candidates in various categories of the Award throughout the last ten years was 1,354 representing 48 countries around the world. 68 out of them won. The number of the Arabic candidates in the Award was 1,169 representing 20 Arab countries and 38 out of them won. In addition, the number of the UAE candidates was 102 and 18 nationals out of them won. The number of the foreign candidates was 185 representing 28 countries around the world and 12 out of them won. Furthermore, 48 senior persons and national and international organizations were honored among them 21 persons from the UAE.
Dr. Helal Al Kaabi said that the highest participation over the last ten years from the Arab countries came from Egypt with 268 participants, followed by Saudi Arabia with 154, Iraq with 142, and Algeria with 122 participants. The UAE ranked fifth among the Arab participants in the award with 102 participants. At the global level, India had the highest participation rate over ten years with 44 participants, followed by the United States with 20, and Canada with 18.
The General Secretariat of the award announced that all the technical and administrative preparations had been completed for receiving the applications online. The names of the winners will be announced by mid-February 2020 and the awards ceremony will be held by mid-March 2020.