Organic Farming in UAE

ORGANIC FARMING IN THE UAE: A NEW ERA FOR SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE

Organic Farming in the UAE

Organic farming. In the UAE? Put together, these words may seem like a paradox. After all, not everyone expects a flourishing agriculture business in the UAE in the middle of the desert. In the past, the UAE suffered from water scarcity and a lack of arable soil which were two of the major challenges the country faced in its agricultural history. Since then, with the intervention of technological innovation, an increase in water as a resource, and the introduction of cutting-edge irrigation systems there has been a transformation in UAE’s agriculture business.

A 2021 report issued by the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) on the world of Organic Agriculture showed that there were at least 3.1 million farmers across 187 nations who are actively involved in organic farming over 72.3 million hectares of land. In fact, the current worth of the global organic produce sector is over USD 250 billion and will reach upto USD 437 billion by 2026

The Global Organic Farming Industry

Organic farming chiefly relies on sustainable agricultural techniques such as crop rotation, green manure, composting, biological pest control etc. What makes organic farming distinct from traditional agricultural practices is that such farming occurs withouttheuseofartificial(synthetic)pesticides,fertilisers,livestockfeedadditivesor growthregulators.

Instead, the organic farmers utilise products like organic manure and compost to provide the necessary nutrition to their plants and apply techniques like crop rotation to help with weed and pest control. Additionally, they rope in beneficial birds and insectsforpestcontrolandboosttheirorganicproduce.

The global organic farming market size is expected to grow up to USD 187.84 billion in 2023 from USD 169.04 billion in 2022 at a compound annual growth rate of 11.1%.

Furthermore, with the current global economic situation, the organic farming industry worldwide is predicted to reach a market size of USD 287.83 billion in 2027 at a CAGR of 11.3%.

Advantages of Organic Farming in UAE

Nowadays, more farmers are opting to diversify their agriculture business in organic farming.Thisisbecauseholistically,ithasseveralbenefits,suchas:

Healthierproduce Environmentallybeneficial Bettereconomicoutput

The crops grown using organic farming have proven to be fresher because of the lack of artificial preservatives. Additionally, there is a reduced possibility of human contamination as there is an absence of harmful chemicals, pesticidesorgrowthhormones.

The biggest plus point of organic farming is that its foundation lies in natural processes. Practices such as composting and crop rotation are crucial to maintaining and improving soil health. They also help in restoring carbon levels in the soil and reduce greenhousegasemissions.

Among the many benefits of organicfarminginUAEisthefact thatitisamoreprofitableventure thantraditionalfarming.Notonly does organic produce sell at a premium rate, but farmers also cut back on costs for expensive artificialpesticidesandfertilisers.

Farming activities in the UAE & their licenses

To start the process of an organic farm in Dubai, UAE, it is essential to identifythefarmingactivityyouwanttoconduct.Thereareseveraltypes offarmingactivitiesforwhichlicensesareissued:

Aquaculture license allows for farming of fishery and other sea creatures

Agricultural activity practice is a license that covers a wide range of agriculturalactivities

Livestockproductionpermitallowsyoutoconductlivestockfarming

Farmers can apply for one or more of the above-mentioned activities to start their organic farming business in the UAE. Farmers are required to declare the exact produce they will be growing as well as the techniques they will be applying to grow their crops. You will also need additional permits depending on the type of farm you want to setup. For example, when starting an aquaculture business, farmers will need an environmental permit. On the other hand, when raising livestock, it is mandatory to have you, or an employee have a certified veterinary license.

Mostfarmingactivitiesrequireyoutohaveaplottoconductthefarming activities. To do so you will need to get a farming approval from the local municipality. After that, you will also need permits for farming equipment. The Dubai Municipality will also conduct a final inspection of the entire facility. Finally, you will need an approval from the agriculture departmentaswell.

To get an approval for conducting organic farming activities, you will need an organic certification. The Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology(MoIAT)carriesoutaConformityAssessmentpostwhichyou canstartlabellingyourgoodsasorganic.

How to obtain an organic farming license in UAE

The process of starting your organic agriculture business can be straightforward when you have experts like Shuraa Business Setup by your side. They will help you with the necessary applications and outline all the activities you want to carry out. Additionally, they will assist you naming your organic farming business while ensuring you comply with the naming laws of the UAE. Shuraa will also submit the business application to the Dubai Economic Department as well as the local municipality on your behalf.

During the application process, you will need to submit the following documents:

Duly filled application form

Passport copies of all shareholders

Details of farming activities you want to conduct

You can also apply for your residency visa to smoothly operate your organic farming business in UAE. You can also submit visa applications for your employees as well as family members. The number of visas you can apply for depends on the business setup type, company size, and personal income (for family visas).

Organic Farming Cost in UAE

Farmers with a plan to setup their own organicfarmwillneedtofactorinvarious costs before they start their agriculture businessinUAE.Thelicensecostitselfwill start from AED 10,000* with additional costs to be factored in for the organic accreditation (application and assessmentfees).

Organic farmers will also need to consider the costs for the land allocated for farming (whether rented or purchased), equipment and livestock/seeds cost, hiring adequate workforce, veterinary/animal care fees aswellasinsurance.

Take the first step towards an organic future

With the newer generations becoming more ecologically conscious, it is a correct decision to tap into the organic farming market. UAE and specially Dubai is home to a huge expat population as well as being a resource rich land. Therefore, there is a huge potential to turn organic farming into a profitable venture.