Iraq To Serve As Guest Of Honour At The 2024 Liwa Dates Festival And Auction In October

The Liwa Date Festival and Auction, set for 11th to 20th October 2024 in Madinat Zayed, Al Dhafra Region, will feature Iraq as the "Guest of Honour." This event, under the patronage of H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, aims to promote knowledge exchange among farmers to cultivate superior palm varieties. Organised by the Abu Dhabi Heritage Authority, it supports Emirati heritage and strengthens food security.

This year’s festival will enhance agricultural ties between the UAE and Iraq. The collaboration aims to improve cooperation in key sectors and facilitate agricultural expertise exchange. The "Iraqi Date Village" will be a focal point, bringing together farmers and business owners to support marketing initiatives related to dates. It will showcase premium Iraqi date varieties and offer direct sales opportunities for visitors.

The festival will host various programmes supporting the agricultural sector and the date industry across the UAE. These include competitive events, auctions, traditional dates mazayna, culinary contests, and packaging competitions. Such activities aim to boost the quality of local produce and encourage innovation in farming practices.

In addition to competitions, the festival offers drawing and photography sessions, lectures, and training programmes for different age groups. Government and private organisations will participate with interactive pavilions providing educational platforms for both farmers and visitors. These activities aim to engage attendees while promoting learning about agriculture.

The UAE leadership is committed to enhancing agriculture's role in Abu Dhabi's economy. By offering a platform for marketing Emirati dates and sharing modern farming techniques, the festival aligns with Abu Dhabi's goals for sustainable agricultural development. It also supports preserving cultural heritage while elevating global leadership in this sector.

Promoting Food Security

The Liwa Date Festival has become a leading international event promoting date production and processing. It highlights premium varieties to support the UAE’s food security strategy. The festival encourages farmers to improve product quality while facilitating knowledge exchange and advancing research in palm cultivation.

By fostering these initiatives, the festival reflects the vision of UAE leadership in supporting sustainable agriculture. It provides opportunities for farm owners to market their products effectively while preserving cultural traditions associated with date farming.

The event underscores its significance as a platform for promoting Emirati heritage through agriculture. By focusing on enhancing product quality and facilitating knowledge transfer among farmers, it contributes significantly to achieving national food security objectives while celebrating cultural traditions associated with date farming.

With inputs from WAM