Goodbye to insects that attack date palms

The Nakheelna initiative focuses on controlling Red Palm Weevil and other pests.- Supplied photo

The UAE Ministry of Environment and Water (MoEW) has begun a new phase to control palm tree pests, as part of the Nakheelna' Initiative.
This second phase aims to propagate disease-free date palm trees, to boost their productivity, and to improve quality of services provided to the palm cultivators in the UAE.
The new phase of the Nakheelna initiative will continue until the end of 2017. The programme aims to find complete solutions for UAE farmers to help them boost the economic output of palm farming and increase date production to support the associated industries and contribute to the country's GDP. It will not only enhance food security but will also diversify income by improving the quality of products while maintaining the UAE's leading position in the date palm industry.
During this phase, the ministry will utilise the latest technologies to control date palm tree pests and diseases without effecting the environment. It will also adopt electronic services to receive registered farmers services request and complaints. And it will use an electronic job report to secure farmers' data along with the issues reported and will respond to them within 48 hours.
Sultan bin Alwan Al Habsi, Assistant Undersecretary at MoEW said that under the latest phase, the ministry will upgrade the tools and equipment, transportation vehicles, spraying devices, spraying water, and mobile and stationary water tanks in all regions to achieve the desired results.
Follow-up services will also be offered along with the maintenance of lighting and pheromone traps, with one pheromone trap to be allocated for every 100 date palm trees and one lighting trap for every 500 date palm trees to be provided inclusive of full maintenance.
Food and water for all traps will also be provided every 15 days and all insects gathered at least twice a month.
Habsi explained that pheromones will be changed at least once a month. There will be a system to number and differentiate pheromone traps as well as take their readings using advanced equipment to ensure the accuracy of data for swift completion.
The location of all traps will be placed according to GPS system that will be placed within agricultural map of the UAE.
During this phase, work will be carried out to control and manage all issues that affect the growth of date palm tree such as insect pests and diseases, especially the Red Palm Weevil, Dobas insect, Al Hamirah, and stem and stalk borers.
The ministry will use the most advanced systems, tools and equipment to detect and control these pests, and treat infected trees.
The UAE Ministry of Environment and Water launched the 'Nakheelna' initiative in 2012. The ongoing second phase focuses on controlling Red Palm Weevil and all other pests that affect date palm tree agriculture on a national scale.
reporters@khaleejtimes.com