Dubai, UAE - Dubai Aid and Humanitarian City (DAHC) and the International Centre for Biosaline Agriculture (ICBA) today signed a Memorandum of Understanding for organizing a training course in Desert Agriculture from 5 to 11 May this year. Initiated by DAHC, the course is aimed at training middle agricultural managers from seven developing countries in Asia and Africa, who will, in turn, act as trainers in their respective countries. The training course will focus on sustainable management of critical biosaline agriculture production in resources such as salty water and land in arid and semi-arid environments.
During the signing ceremony Barbara Castek, CEO of DAHC said: "Through the creation of DAHC Dubai wants to enhance its role as an active contributor to international development. Training the workforce in less developed countries in order for them to become self sustainable and thus less dependant on international aid should be the main aim of any humanitarian initiative."
Participants will be trained in the course of one week by expert trainers from ICBA in their state of the art facility in the outskirts of Dubai. The course is the first initiative of its kind, undertaken by DAHC, who has training and education in the humanitarian field as one of its main prerogatives. It will be funded by a private donation.
A significant part of the training process in biosaline agriculture will be dedicated to the management and income generating potentials from resource limited farming systems. A programme of field activities will complement the theoretical classes where participants will be able put their knowledge into practice.
"This course is one of the first development initiatives, facilitated by DAHC. Our role is to liaise between the donor, the course providers and the countries that will benefit from it and we are very happy to see this initiative taking shape. By arranging this course we not only provide useful knowledge and practical help to developing countries, but also help establish UAE as a country actively involved in international aid and development", added Castek.
Dr Mohammad Al Attar, Director General of ICBA said: "We agreed to collaborate with DAHC to present a course that will send the participants from member countries of the Islamic Development Bank, ICBA's main sponsor, as well as others from poor nations, back to their countries equipped with knowledge and practical skills that they will be able to apply in their immediate surroundings. We are certain, that with our scientific and training experience and world class facility, we will fulfill this noble task and we are looking forward to working with DAHC on this and other development initiatives".
-Ends-
About Dubai Aid and Humanitarian City
Established by the Government of Dubai, Dubai Aid and Humanitarian City is a non-profit business organization providing facilities and services for the international relief and development sector.
As the world's first global humanitarian hub, DAHC's mission is to facilitate, expedite and lower costs of international humanitarian operations by providing specialised services in emergency response and preparedness, procurement support, AIM (Advocacy, Information, Media), training and education and donor coordination support.
DAHC customers and partners include UN agencies, international non-profit organizations and donors, suppliers and service providers to the humanitarian community.
About the International Center for Biosaline Agriculture (ICBA)
The International Center for Biosaline Agriculture (ICBA) is a new applied research center located in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Its mission is to develop and promote the use of sustainable agricultural systems that use saline water to grow crops. The Center is initially focusing on forage production systems and landscape plants in countries of the Gulf-Co-operation Council and other parts of the Islamic and developing world. The technologies the center develops will, however, be of value globally, wherever farmers face problems of saline soils or irrigation with salty waters.
The Islamic Development Bank took the lead in establishing ICBA, providing funds for the Center and attracting the support of the Government of the UAE, through its Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, and other donors, including the Arab Fund for Economic and Social Development, the OPEC Fund for International Development, and the Municipality of Dubai.
Main Program Areas
- ICBA's work falls into four main areas:
- Plant genetic resources, from collection through characterization and utilization
- Sustainable production and management systems
- Communications and networking
- Training and extension
For additional information:
DAHC:
Boryana Korcheva
Head of Marketing
Tel: +9714 3680706
boryana.korcheva@dubaiaidcity.ae
ICBA
Tel: +971-4-3361100
Fax: +971-4-3361155
icba@biosaline.org.ae
www.biosaline.org
© Press Release 2006
