Abu dhabi: The Supreme Committee of the Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Agricultural Excellence Award has announced that registration for the primary categories of the award's fourth edition has closed, adhering to the previously set deadline of 15th December.
According to Emirates News Agency, applicants who completed preliminary registration through the official website (smaea.ae) have been urged by the Committee to finalise their submissions and ensure all necessary documentation is submitted before the deadline. With registration now closed, the award will proceed to the evaluation and judging stages, which will include desk-based assessments to shortlist eligible applications and field evaluations with on-site visits to nominees to verify practices. The Supreme Jury will then ratify the results, culminating in the announcement of winners at the award's closing ceremony.
The award offers a total prize value of AED10 million, distributed across four main categories and 13 sub-categories, along with festivals and competitions. The principal categories include the 'Best Farm and Best Livestock Holder' Award, 'Agricultural Technologies' Award, 'Commercial Farms' Award, and 'Outstanding Female Farmer and Breeder' Award. These categories underscore the importance of empowering women and their role in enhancing food security.
Mouza Suhail Al Muhairi, Deputy Director-General of the Abu Dhabi Agriculture and Food Safety Authority for Regulatory and Administrative Affairs and Chair of the Supreme Committee of the Award, stated that the award continues to draw significant interest from farmers, livestock breeders, and commercial farms throughout the Emirates. This interest reflects the trust the award has garnered over past editions as a national platform for promoting competitiveness and best agricultural practices.
Al Muhairi highlighted that over its four editions, the award has played an essential role in sustainable agricultural development, promoting innovation in plant and animal production, encouraging the adoption of advanced agricultural technologies, and enabling farmers and commercial farms to improve operations and enhance efficiency and productivity.
The AED10 million prize fund is designed to provide long-term support to the national agricultural sector, reinforcing food security and fostering ongoing development. Al Muhairi noted that the broad range of award categories aligns with the needs of the UAE's agricultural sector, with the dedicated category for female farmers reflecting a commitment to empowering women as essential contributors to agricultural development.
Furthermore, Al Muhairi mentioned the award's participation in the Sheikh Zayed Festival in Al Wathba, Abu Dhabi, through a dedicated pavilion and activities, which provides an interactive platform for farmers to explore development opportunities and support offered by the award. The Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Agricultural Excellence Award is also hosting a pavilion at the festival, organizing five specialized festivals and 77 accompanying competitions, along with a variety of educational and awareness activities.