Manama: The Bahrain international agricultural and animal production exhibition, Mara'ee 2024, continues to attract a wide range of visitors of all ages, offering a comprehensive educational and practical experience that highlights the latest agricultural innovations and modern technologies at the Bahrain International Endurance Village. According to Bahrain News Agency, Ali Al Kharfoush, Chairman of the Agricultural Exhibitions Committee and Head of Agricultural Wealth Promotion at the Ministry of Municipalities and Agriculture, explained that this year's festival features a new agricultural tent for the first time, showcasing student and academic projects alongside a section dedicated to the historical timeline of agriculture in Bahrain. He emphasised that these additions aim to highlight Bahrain's rich agricultural heritage and enhance agricultural awareness among visitors and farmers. Among the innovative projects that garnered visitor interest was a smart agricultural robot capable of performing compre hensive agricultural operations. The robot was presented by student Sayed Hassan Ali from Jidhafs Secondary Technical Boys School. Dr. Ziad Mohammed from University of Technology Bahrain (UTB) showcased a groundbreaking project for monitoring indoor farms that relies on advanced sensors to measure humidity, temperature, and soil acidity, sending reports to farm owners to automatically activate suitable environmental systems. Mohammad Mahdi from the Arabian Gulf University (AGU) presented a project aimed at improving irrigation efficiency using sensors to measure soil moisture levels, helping to conserve water and optimize its use. In the realm of sustainable solutions, Fatima Khalil from the Department of Biology at the University of Bahrain (UoB) introduced a project for producing biochar from palm waste. This project contributes to improving soil fertility, enhancing plant growth, and removing pollutants from hydrocarbon compounds. Eman Al Fadhel from the Ministry of Municipalities and Agriculture discuss ed hydroponic farming techniques using agricultural sponges, which reduce water consumption and accelerate agricultural production, emphasising that this technique is an innovative solution to the challenges of water scarcity. Regarding irrigation technologies, Abbas Ali from the Ministry of Municipalities and Agriculture explained that subsurface irrigation using pipes that target plant roots directly is one of the most effective solutions for reducing water waste and preventing evaporation, noting that this technique has become widely used in local farms. The festival also featured presentations on the propagation of orchid and palm trees by Rahma Mohamad Moussa from Agricultural Affairs Authority, alongside contributions from Ahmed Saeed, who showcased a collection of preserved agricultural pests and provided guidance on how to manage them, aiming to raise agricultural awareness among visitors. Mara'ee 2024 festival exemplifies a unique model that combines innovations in agricultural and animal production , enhancing Bahrain's position as a leading regional center for sustainable development.
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