ID :
50740
Mon, 03/16/2009 - 14:03
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https://oananews.org//node/50740
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UAE has a date with new Guinness world record
The UAE has been officially recognised as the leading cultivator of date palms in the world with 42 million trees, it was announced on Sunday according to a report in "Gulf News."
"The UAE has the largest number of date palm trees among the countries of the world with 42 million trees," Jenny Karampoiki, records manager of the Guinness World Records, said at a presentation ceremony held at the Emirates Palace Hotel to honour the winners of the inaugural Khalifa International Date Palm Awards.
Sheikh Nahyan Bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, received the Guinness certificate, which reads: "The world record for the most palm trees planted in 10 years is 42 million and was achieved by the UAE."
The Dh2 million award attracted 39 entries from 18 countries - two-thirds of them from Arab countries.
The competition was envisioned by President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan to reward and encourage achievement in the date industry worldwide.
Sheikh Nahyan, who is also president of board of trustees of the award, stressed the government's commitment to sustaining agricultural production under the guidance of Sheikh Khalifa to achieve food security and to ensure sustainable development.
Sheikh Nahyan said the initiative to grow more date palms was part of a comprehensive development plan to boost the nation's agriculture.
Sheikh Khalifa, he said, had taken the initiative to augment areas under cultivation and with an emphasis on self-sufficiency and diversification of income.
"The UAE enjoys a very prestigious position at the regional and international levels due to the ... huge achievements ... to protect the natural resources and implement projects and ambitious plans for desert reclamation and planting of forests..." Sheikh Nahyan said.
Congratulating the winners of the awards, he said: "The award is a message from a national perspective but global in its outlook for the benefit and peace of all mankind."
Sheikh Nahyan said strategic plans to promote agricultural growth and date palms in particular had been pursued by the late Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan for more than half a century and Sheikh Khalifa had followed the example by doubling areas of date palm cultivation, fighting desertification, expanding the green cover and encouraging industries based on dates and other food produce.
He dedicated the international record to the late Sheikh Zayed and to Sheikh Khalifa and other Rulers, Crown Princes and Sheikhs for their efforts and wholehearted support for date cultivation with the ultimate objective of promoting sustainable development.
Khalifa International Date Palm Awards' reward is Dh2 million. The award attracted 39 entries from 18 countries two thirds of them Arabs.
The winners of the inaugural Khalifa International Date Palm Award are:
- Distinguished Research/Study First prize withheld Second prize claimed by The National Institute of Agronomic Research In Morocco, for its work on the Bayoud fungus.
- Distinguished Producers First prize claimed by Atul Ltd, from India, for its date palm development programme.
- Second prize claimed by The UAE's Emirates Bio-fertiliser Factory for its role in local and regional date palm culture development.
- Distinguished Figure Rakan Maktoum Al Qubaisi, secretary general of the UAE's National Consultative Council, honoured for his efforts to help organise the Muzayanat Rutab annual exhibition.
"The UAE has the largest number of date palm trees among the countries of the world with 42 million trees," Jenny Karampoiki, records manager of the Guinness World Records, said at a presentation ceremony held at the Emirates Palace Hotel to honour the winners of the inaugural Khalifa International Date Palm Awards.
Sheikh Nahyan Bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, received the Guinness certificate, which reads: "The world record for the most palm trees planted in 10 years is 42 million and was achieved by the UAE."
The Dh2 million award attracted 39 entries from 18 countries - two-thirds of them from Arab countries.
The competition was envisioned by President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan to reward and encourage achievement in the date industry worldwide.
Sheikh Nahyan, who is also president of board of trustees of the award, stressed the government's commitment to sustaining agricultural production under the guidance of Sheikh Khalifa to achieve food security and to ensure sustainable development.
Sheikh Nahyan said the initiative to grow more date palms was part of a comprehensive development plan to boost the nation's agriculture.
Sheikh Khalifa, he said, had taken the initiative to augment areas under cultivation and with an emphasis on self-sufficiency and diversification of income.
"The UAE enjoys a very prestigious position at the regional and international levels due to the ... huge achievements ... to protect the natural resources and implement projects and ambitious plans for desert reclamation and planting of forests..." Sheikh Nahyan said.
Congratulating the winners of the awards, he said: "The award is a message from a national perspective but global in its outlook for the benefit and peace of all mankind."
Sheikh Nahyan said strategic plans to promote agricultural growth and date palms in particular had been pursued by the late Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan for more than half a century and Sheikh Khalifa had followed the example by doubling areas of date palm cultivation, fighting desertification, expanding the green cover and encouraging industries based on dates and other food produce.
He dedicated the international record to the late Sheikh Zayed and to Sheikh Khalifa and other Rulers, Crown Princes and Sheikhs for their efforts and wholehearted support for date cultivation with the ultimate objective of promoting sustainable development.
Khalifa International Date Palm Awards' reward is Dh2 million. The award attracted 39 entries from 18 countries two thirds of them Arabs.
The winners of the inaugural Khalifa International Date Palm Award are:
- Distinguished Research/Study First prize withheld Second prize claimed by The National Institute of Agronomic Research In Morocco, for its work on the Bayoud fungus.
- Distinguished Producers First prize claimed by Atul Ltd, from India, for its date palm development programme.
- Second prize claimed by The UAE's Emirates Bio-fertiliser Factory for its role in local and regional date palm culture development.
- Distinguished Figure Rakan Maktoum Al Qubaisi, secretary general of the UAE's National Consultative Council, honoured for his efforts to help organise the Muzayanat Rutab annual exhibition.
