Khalifa International Award for Date Palm and Agricultural Innovation, hosts

His Excellency the Director General of the Arab Organization for Agricultural Development (AOAD), by organizing a scientific virtual lecture on

With the attendance of 61 experts and specialists in the Date Palm cultivation sector, and representing 11 countries.

Khalifa International Award for Date Palm and Agricultural Innovation General Secretariat, organized a scientific virtual lecture on the “Achievements of the Arab Organization for Agricultural Development, in developing the Date Palm cultivation and Date Production sectors”, presented by H.E. Dr. Ibrahim Al Dhukheiri, Director General, Arab Organization for Agricultural Development (AOAD), on Thursday 20^th of May, 2021, with the attendance of 61 experts and specialists in the Date Palm cultivation sector, and representing 11 Arab countries. Dr. Abdelouahhab Zaid, Award’s Secretary General, noted that this virtual lecture comes under the directives of H.E. Sheikh Nahayan Mabarak Al Nahayan, Minister of Tolerance and Coexistence, Chairman of the Award’s Board of Trustees, and within the Award’s framework and commitment to spread the scientific knowledge and awareness specialized in date palm cultivation production.

From his side, H.E. Dr. Ibrahim Al Dhukheiri, confirmed that the Arab Organization for Agricultural Development has been concerned since its inception with the development of the date palm cultivation and production sectors, and this interest has been reflected in the Arab countries with the care provided to the blessed tree, by increasing the cultivated areas and combating pests and diseases that may affect the growth of date palm trees, whether Mechanical, bio-agricultural, chemical, or by imposing regulating legislations for the application of strict agricultural quarantine measures to prevent and protect this blessed tree. His Excellency also presented some of the most important national and international projects, studies and reports carried out by the organization.

The most prominent national and regional projects in the Arab countries:

H.E. Dr. Al Dhukheiri, then highlighted the most important national projects implemented by the organization in the Arab region, such as the Regional project for the biological control of the palm weevil and the stem and root borer in the Gulf region. Some of the most important projects also presented were the Transfer of the biological control technology in the integrated management to the red palm weevil control in the Middle East, the Regional research project for early detection of egg disease on date palms in North Africa, the Development of the integrated management of the date palm Dubas insect in the Arab region project, and the Emergency program for Arab food security.

The most prominent regional projects in the Arab countries:

H.E. Dr. Al Dhukheiri, then presented the most significant regional projects that were implemented in the Arab countries, such as the “Improving and propagating the date palm tree in Sudan” project, the “Contribution to date palm horticulture research in the Sultanate of Oman”, the “Biological control of agricultural pests in Kuwait”, and the “Development of integrated control of agricultural pests in date palm trees and fruit trees in the UAE” project. Some of the most pioneering projects also were the “Combat of the green scale insect on date palm trees in Sudan, and “The introduction of the technical packages for the development of date palm cultivation in the Kingdom of Morocco”.

H.E. Dr. Al Dhukheiri, then concluded the lecture by highlighting the great role played by the Khalifa International Award for Date Palm and Agricultural Innovation in supporting and developing the date palm cultivation sector and the date production worldwide, through the organizing of Jordan International Date Palm Festival, Sudan International Date Palm Festival, and Egypt International Date Palm Festival and the accompanying activities and events. Which actively contributed to the increase of the reputation of the Arab dates and the volume of exports, in addition to the series of international conferences organized by the Award’s General Secretariat for over twenty four years.