The award has attracted participants from top researchers, experts and farmers.

Shamila Jamaluddin, Staff Reporter

The General Secretariat of the Khalifa International Award for Date Palm and Agricultural Innovation (KIADPAI) announced Thursday that it has now opened nominations for candidates for the 12th session KIADPAI 2020 awards.

Nominations for candidates has also opened for those taking part in the third session of the Distinguished and Innovator UAE farmers 2020.

The nomination period begins from May 1 to December 31 during which time date palm farmers, producers, researchers  academics and lovers of Date Palm and Agricultural Innovation can take part. Candidates from both local and international sectors may apply to take part and compete in this award.

Prof. Abdelouahhab Zaid, Secretary General of KIADPAI, at a press conference held Thursday in the Capital said even after eleven years the competition is steadily growing in its various levels, the number of candidates has increased in the various categories of the Award.

The Award has attracted participants from top researchers, experts, farmers and those interested in the date palm sector, from all around the world competing in its varied categories. The categories are: ‘Distinguished Innovative Studies and Modern Technology’, ‘Pioneering Development and Productive projects’, ‘Pioneering and Sophisticated Innovations Serving the Agricultural Sector’, ‘Influential Figure in the Field of Date Palm and Agricultural Innovation,’ and the ‘Distinguished Farmer Award.’

Dr Helal Al Kaabi, member of the Award Board of Trustees, pointed out that the total number of the candidates since the competition began in 2009 to 2019 in its various categories of the Award was 1,354 representing 48 countries.

“Sixty-eight out of them have won. The number of the Arabic candidates in the Award was 1,169 representing twenty Arab countries and 38 out of them won,” he added. In addition, the number of the UAE candidates was 102 and 18 nationals out of them have won.The number of foreign candidates was 185 representing 28 countries and 12 have won. Furthermore 48 senior persons and national and international organisations were also honoured, among them 21 persons from the UAE.

The General Secretariat opened its nomination periods under the patronage of Sheikh Nahyan, Minister for Tolerance and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of KIADPAI.