Agriculture In Bahrain

1. What is Agriculture and why is it important to the Bahrain

economy?
Agriculture is the practice of cultivating natural resources to sustain human life and provide
economic gain. It combines the creativity, imagination, and skill involved in planting crops and
raising animals with modern production methods and new technologies.

Agriculture is also a business that provides the global economy with commodities: basic goods
used in commerce, such as grain, livestock, dairy, fiber, and raw materials for fuel.

Agriculture impacts society in many ways, including: supporting livelihoods through food,
habitat, and jobs; providing raw materials for food and other products; and building strong
economies through trade. Source: The Balance Small Business.

2. What are the main agriculture products of Bahrain?

The major crops grown are dates, figs, mangos, pomegranates, melons, papayas, water
turnips, potatoes, tomatoes, and produce poultry and dairy products for the local market.

3. Bahrain agriculture history

Agriculture was a major and important sector of Bahrain’s economy historically and date
cultivation was the main dominant in Bahrain’s agriculture producing sufficient dates for the
local consumption and export. At least twenty-three varieties of dates were grown. Also
extensively used were the leaves, branches, buds, and flowers of the date palm. During the
period from the 1950s to 1970s, there was a gradual decline in date cultivation due to several
factors such as changing food consumption habits and the increasing salinity of the aquifers
that served as irrigation sources. By the 1980s, a significant number of palm groves had been
replaced by new kinds of agricultural activities, including vegetable gardens, nurseries for
trees and flowers, poultry production and dairy farm.
Bahrain's cultivated area had been reduced from 6,000 hectares (15,000 acres) before independence to
1,500 hectares (3,700 acres). The cultivated land consists of about 10,000 plots ranging in size from a
few square meters to 4 hectares (9.9 acres).[1] These plots are distributed among approximately 800
owners. A minority of large owners, including individuals and institutions, are absentee landlords who
control about 60 percent of all cultivable land.[1] The ruling Al Khalifa own the greatest number of
plots, including the largest and most productive ones, although public information pertaining to the
distribution of ownership among family members was not available as of 1994

4. Bahrain agriculture Today

 While there was indeed the threat of Bahrain's agricultural production
decreasing due to its lack of water resources and shortage of land, the
implementation of alternative crop production methods has left the hope of an
increasingly more sustainable future for the kingdom. According to a recent
Mordor Intelligence report, an organization that specializes in delivering data
and insights on market trends, Bahrain agriculture is predicted to grow at a
compound annual growth rate of 1.50% starting from 2019 to 2024. This figure
incorporates three main sectors of food production: food crops, fruits and
vegetables.
Bahrain has been a net importer of fruits and vegetables to other gulf member
countries and countries in North America and South America due to trade
agreements with the countries such as the United States and Saudi Arabia, and the
country is one of the major producers of dates globally.
Bahrain is characterized by high temperatures, limited arable land, water scarcity,
and increasing groundwater salinity resulting in limited crops grown in the country.
The national government is focusing on intensifying the finance for agriculture and
livestock to attract foreign investments for agriculture projects to keep up with local
demand.
5. Alternative Agriculture practiced in Bahrain
• hydroponic farming
Hydroponics is the technique of growing plants using a water-based nutrient
solution rather than soil, and can include an aggregate substrate, or growing
media, such as vermiculite, coconut coir, or perlite. Hydroponic production
systems are used by small farmers, hobbyists, and commercial enterprises.
For example, Al Ghalia Farms produces locally grown vegetables in a
hydroponic system
Benefits of hydroponic Farming

Higher Yields

Plants grown in well-managed hydroponi systems are living the good life. Since
roots are bathed in all the nutrients they need, plants spend more time growing
upward and less time and energy growing extensive root systems to search for
food.
Growth rates vary based on the type of system and quality of care, but hydro plants
can mature up to 25 percent more quickly than the same plants grown in soil, with
increased crop yield, to boot.

Fewer Resources
systems actually use less water than traditional soil-based systems. This is because
closed systems aren’t subject to the same rates of evaporation. Plus, the water used
in hydroponic systems can be filtered, re-populated with nutrients, and fed back to
plants again so that water is constantly being recycled instead of wasted!

• Aquaculture
Aquaculture is breeding, raising, and harvesting fish, shellfish, and aquatic
plants. Basically, it's farming in water. U.S. aquaculture is an
environmentally responsible source of food and commercial products, helps
to create healthier habitats, and is used to rebuild stocks of threatened or
endangered species.
Peninsula Farms is a producer of hydroponic vegetables and goat milk.
Benefits of Aquaculture
An Alternative Food Source
Fish and other seafood are good sources of protein. They also have more
nutritional value and help add natural oils such as omega-3 acids into a diet.
Also, since the aquatic creatures involved offer white meat, we can safely argue
that aquaculture is generally good for the blood as it helps reduce cholesterol
levels as opposed to beef’s red meat.
Increases Jobs in the Market
Aquaculture increases the number of possible jobs in the market. It provides both
new products for a market and creates job opportunities as labor is required
to maintain the pools and harvest the organisms grown.
Water Usage
Aquaculture systems often take advantage of harvested runoffs, stormwater,
and surface water. This reduces the dependency on other sources of water supply.
In addition, ponds maintain soil moisture in their vicinity, thereby conserving
natural resources.