Registration Closes For Sheikh Mansour Bin Zayed Agricultural Excellence Award With AED10 Million Prize Fund

The Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Agricultural Excellence Award's Supreme Committee has closed registration for its fourth edition. The deadline was set for 15th December. Applicants who registered preliminarily on the official website were reminded to complete their submissions and provide necessary documents by this date.

The award's evaluation process is now underway, starting with desk-based assessments to shortlist eligible entries. This will be followed by field evaluations, where on-site visits verify practices in nominated categories. The Supreme Jury will then ratify results, leading to the announcement of winners at the closing ceremony.

Prizes totalling AED10 million are distributed across four main categories and 13 sub-categories, along with festivals and competitions. The main categories include: "Best Farm and Best Livestock Holder," "Agricultural Technologies," "Commercial Farms," and "Outstanding Female Farmer and Breeder." These categories highlight women's roles in food security.

Mouza Suhail Al Muhairi, Deputy Director-General of the Abu Dhabi Agriculture and Food Safety Authority, noted the award's growing appeal among farmers, livestock breeders, and commercial farms in the Emirates. She stated that this interest reflects trust built over previous editions as a national platform promoting competitiveness and best practices.

Over its four editions, the award has significantly contributed to sustainable agricultural development. It encourages innovation in plant and animal production while promoting advanced agricultural technologies. This enables farmers and commercial farms to enhance operations, boosting efficiency and productivity.

Al Muhairi emphasised that the AED10 million prize fund supports long-term growth in the national agricultural sector. It reinforces food security while driving ongoing development. She also highlighted that a dedicated category for female farmers aligns with empowering women as vital contributors to agricultural progress.

The award participates in the Sheikh Zayed Festival in Al Wathba, Abu Dhabi, through a dedicated pavilion. This offers an interactive platform for farmers to explore development opportunities supported by the award. The pavilion hosts five specialised festivals, 77 competitions, plus educational activities.

The Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Agricultural Excellence Award continues to be a catalyst for innovation within agriculture. By recognising excellence across various categories, it strengthens food security efforts while fostering sustainable practices throughout the UAE's farming community.

With inputs from WAM