Sharjah Farmers' Forum Explores Strategies for Agricultural Marketing and Recommends Establishing a Centralized Collection Center

Sharjah's agriculture department is creating a new distribution center to help local farmers get their produce to market more efficiently. The center will collect, sort, inspect, package and deliver agricultural products directly to retail outlets, addressing one of the biggest challenges facing UAE farmers today.

The plan emerged from a farmers' forum organized by Sharjah's Department of Agriculture and Livestock, where local producers met with specialized companies and retailers to discuss sustainable farming practices and market access. The gathering highlighted how farmers struggle to reach local markets despite growing demand for locally-produced food.

Dr. Khalifa Musbah Al Tunaiji, who heads the agriculture department, told Emirates News Agency that the center needs agreement from all parties - farmers, suppliers, and retailers - before the government can approve and implement it. He expects the facility to be operational by next farming season.

The initiative fits into the UAE's broader push for food security. The country imports about 85% of its food, making local production a strategic priority. But small-scale farmers often lack the infrastructure to properly process, package and distribute their crops to supermarkets and restaurants that want to buy local.

Sharjah has been testing new farming technologies to make local production more viable. This summer, the emirate successfully piloted greenhouse systems in Al Dhaid city that run on solar power with locally-manufactured cooling equipment. The technology, which carries UAE patents, reduced temperatures by more than 10 degrees Celsius while cutting electricity and water costs.

These innovations matter because traditional farming in the UAE faces serious obstacles. Extreme heat, water scarcity, and high energy costs make agriculture expensive and difficult. The solar-powered greenhouses show how technology can make farming more sustainable and profitable.

The forum also focused on helping farmers understand quality standards and market requirements. Many local producers grow good crops but don't know how to meet the packaging, labeling and safety standards that retailers require.

Al Tunaiji said the agriculture department, following directives from Sharjah's ruler Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, is working to make farming projects more viable. Agriculture and livestock form a key part of Sharjah's economy and contribute to the UAE's food security goals while creating jobs.

The meeting brought together farm owners, department managers, and representatives from local agricultural marketing companies. Farmers shared their main challenges and discussed how to transform traditional farms into more sustainable, productive operations.

For investors and policymakers, this represents a practical approach to food security. Rather than just encouraging farming, Sharjah is building the infrastructure that makes local agriculture commercially viable. The distribution center could become a model for other emirates facing similar challenges in connecting farmers to markets.