ICBA, Ajman Business Women Council team up to boost agripreneurship in UAE

The International Center for Biosaline Agriculture (ICBA) and the Ajman Business Women Council (AJBWC), which is affiliated with the Ajman Chamber of Commerce and Industry, have agreed to collaborate on capacity development to boost agripreneurship among youth and women.

ICBA and AJBWC inked a memorandum of understanding to this effect at AJBWC’s headquarters in the emirate of Ajman, the UAE, on 23 May 2021.

The agreement was signed by Dr. Tarifa Alzaabi, Acting Director General of ICBA, and Dr. Amna Khalifa Al Ali, Chairwoman of AJBWC, in the presence of senior officials from both organizations.

Commenting on the collaboration, Dr. Tarifa Alzaabi said: “We are delighted to join forces with AJBWC, which will help us to scale up our existing capacity development efforts and boost agricultural entrepreneurship in the UAE and other countries. This partnership is aligned with our existing programs like the Arab Women Leaders in Agriculture (AWLA) and ICBA Youth Engagement Society (ICBA YES), which are tailored for women and youth.”

Dr. Tarifa Alzaabi added: “I am sure this partnership will help generate more interest among the younger generation, especially women, in the agricultural sector and ultimately support food security and contribute to the UN Sustainable Development Goals.”

For her part, Dr. Amna Khalifa Al Ali stressed the importance of strengthening cooperation between

AJBWC and ICBA to encourage businesswomen to pursue agricultural projects through the “Plant and Reap” initiative, one of AJBWC’s main initiatives for 2021.

Dr. Amna Khalifa Al Ali said this initiative is aimed at encouraging businesswomen to achieve self-sufficiency in agricultural products by providing appropriate support for equipping greenhouses, making use of unused spaces in homes, and relying on modern agricultural technologies.

Dr. Amna Khalifa Al Ali added: “AJBWC is keen to keep pace with the mechanisms required to support the agricultural sector and food security by guiding women entrepreneurs to enter this field, especially given the significant agricultural progress the country is witnessing using modern agricultural models and promising innovative tools for successful agricultural projects.”

She commended ICBA’s efforts and its role in implementing research-for-development programs aimed at enhancing agricultural productivity and sustainability.

Under the agreement, ICBA and AJBWC will develop projects and capacity development programs, including training workshops focused on agripreneurship targeting, among others, AJBWC members.

The two organizations will also offer agricultural consultations under the framework of “Plant and Reap” initiative.