A new agriculture prize worth BD20,000 ($52,709) aimed at improving Bahrain's food security was announced yesterday (February 5).

The King Hamad Prize for Agricultural Development was unveiled by National Initiative for Agriculture Development (NIAD) acting secretary general Shaikha Maram bint Isa Al Khalifa, at an event held at the Isa Culture Centre, Juffair, said a report in the Gulf Daily News (GDN), our sister publication.

The prize is made up of three categories - best agricultural project, best Bahraini farmer and best agricultural research and studies.

"The prize has been established by Her Royal Highness Princess Sabeeka bint Ibrahim Al Khalifa, National Initiative for Agricultural Development consultative council president," said Shaikha Maram.

"It seeks to create a positive competitive environment among owners of agricultural projects, Bahraini farmers and researchers to improve this sector.

"The agricultural sector is one of the three most important sectors in any global economy.

"It is the main sector to achieve sustainable development and economic balance."

The prize aims to contribute to agricultural development by increasing the contribution of agricultural sector to the country's GDP, ensuring relative food security, encouraging the use of modern agricultural techniques, encouraging investment, entrepreneurship and small and medium enterprises, encouraging scientific research and creating a competitive environment to attract a qualified Bahraini workforce, Shaikha Maram said.

Best Agricultural Project committee head Mohammed Bucheery said the category he was in charge of would carry a cash prize of BD10,000.

"The prize aims to honour the best agricultural project that has produced distinct agricultural crops, raised awareness about the importance of contributing to the achievement of food security and supported the national economy of Bahrain," he said.

"It will recognise projects that produce a variety of agricultural crops using modern agricultural techniques, follow effective marketing tools to promote their products, and enhance the ratio of Bahraini workers through training and capacity development."

Best Bahraini Farmer committee head Dr Thuraya Al Mansoori added that the prize she was in charge of was aimed at "increasing the number of professional Bahraini farmers of different age groups and encouraging them to compete for better agricultural output".

Skills

"It also aims to raise the level of knowledge and technical skills to increase local production as well as economic return and the achievement of food security," she said.

"Objectives of the prize have been extended to include, increasing awareness among farmers about the importance of preserving Bahraini agricultural traditions and environmental issues and encouraging farmers to innovate and use modern farming techniques.

"The winner will be granted a cash prize of BD5,000."

Meanwhile Best Agricultural Research and Studies committee head Professor Waheeb Essa Al Naser said that the winner in this category would also be awarded BD5,000.

"This prize is aimed at supporting and motivating researchers to enhance their efforts towards raising the level of scientific research in the area of agricultural development," he said.

"It should also boost the agricultural sector so it becomes a tributary of economic development, achieves food security and sustainability, and creates a database of documented scientific research in the field of agriculture."

Applicants can apply in only one category from the time registration opens on March 1. - TradeArabia News Service