Al-Furaih Calls for Encouraging Organic Farming in Kuwait

Agricultural expert Mohammed Ibrahim Al-Fraih called for the promotion of organic farming in Kuwait through the formation of an independent technical committee under the supervision of the Agriculture Authority. This committee would be responsible for contacting dedicated and hardworking farmers in Al-Wafra and Al-Abdali to allocate portions of their farms for large-scale organic farming trials and to grant scientifically certified organic product certifications before the produce is offered for sale in some prestigious retail outlets. Al-Fraih added that it is necessary to begin large-scale experimentation with organic farming in Kuwait, but this requires genuine government support because the percentage of organic production could reach only about ten percent of the total production currently known to use chemical fertilizers and pesticides, which have become a danger to the health of consumers and pose a threat to the natural environment and its living. He explained that the trend toward organic farming (organic), i.e., without the use of chemicals for fertilization, pest control, and treatment, has been strong in recent years in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, particularly the United Arab Emirates and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, to ensure a safe and healthy diet. No matter how high the price, people are willing to pay for it, provided they are certain it is truly organic. This can only be guaranteed by an independent technical committee, not by the farmer or producer themselves. In many European countries, no organic product can be marketed without certification from such a committee, so that consumers are not deceived or misled by mixing organic and non-organic products in a single package… or paying an exorbitant price for a box of cucumbers or tomatoes, for example, believing them to be organic simply because they are expensive! Al-Fraih said that he and some Kuwaiti farmers pay special attention to organic farming practices to promote food safety for the public through their participation in conferences, seminars, and lectures in GCC countries and beyond on organic farming, the most recent of which was in the United Arab Emirates, where he met with the Assistant Undersecretary of the Ministry of Environment and Water for Agricultural and Biological Affairs, Engineer Saif Al-Shara, who explained to him the laws supporting organic farming in the UAE, the type of technical support provided to farmers, and its value—all of which have contributed to the success of organic farming, an increase in cultivated area, and the development of the organic products market. Al-Fraih concluded by expressing his hope that organic farming in Kuwait would receive the same support as it has in many countries near and far from Kuwait, in order to preserve human health and safety—our most precious asset.