ABU DHABI, 8th December, 2013 (WAM) -- The Abu Dhabi Farmers Services Centre (ADFSC) has started supplying local sheep, veal and chicken to big supermarkets operating in the UAE.
They are also in discussion with Al Ain Cooperative. This is the first time when local meat products sourced from small local farms are marketed to big supermarket chains in the country. These products include local fresh sheep, goats, calves, and poultry meat as whole carcasses or in chopped parts (wings, breasts, and thighs etc.) sourced directly from Abu Dhabi farms and are subject to higher levels of care before slaughter and testing according to the highest levels of control and food safety applicable with Abu Dhabi Food Control Authority (ADFCA). Moreover, the ADFSC intends to supply other types of white meat including rabbit meat, quail, and pigeons raised in farms of Abu Dhabi farmers. This initiative comes as part of a plan to expand the marketing of local meat products to major local supermarkets in the UAE. Christopher Hirst, ADFSC CEO stated, "Our role is to support the development of local products to support sustainable agriculture in Abu Dhabi. Livestock is a key component of this strategy. We have worked to develop a market for local livestock products to the major retail chains in the country, where they are sold under the umbrella of "Local harvest" a brand designed specifically for local products." The ADFSC encourages farmers to care more about livestock as per the concept of integrated farming. The ADFSC also urges farmers to grow mainly fodder crops that consume less water and are resistant to salinity in addition to the allocation of a space to establish livestock yards for the breeding of different types of livestock.Copyright Emirates News Agency (WAM) 2013.
