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Desert regions cover thirty three percent of the land areas of the Earth. For centuries they have been associated with hardship and considered hostile to agricultural production of any kind. Even though technology is constantly improving many aspects of our lives, the basic food security still poses a major problem in many desert regions of the planet. Though organic farming is becoming very popular in most fertile farm lands all over the world it is not so easy to adopt the same standards for desert regions. Organic farming in desert regions might appear like a science fiction. However by the end of 2016 a team of farmers from the UAE have successfully implemented their vision of transforming the desert sands into green plantations by adopting organic farming. They made this achievement by using a combo fertilizer method. It is a story of success worth considering.

Throughout the history of the world, people have crossed the deserts in search of more friendly lands to plant their crops and develop their farms. Long and exhausting journeys were made by them in the hope of encountering oasis because they thought that it was impossible for crops to take root in the hot desert sand.

Some farmers in the UAE started considering whether they could transform the desert into farm lands? They probed the possibility of transforming the vast expanse of hostile and uninviting hot desert sands into fertile soil suitable for plantations. They hoped that the so called deserts could then be viewed as gold mines for growing high value crops, through organic farming processes.

Food security experts, farmers, innovators and business people worldwide are awaiting the results of such trials with great interest. Their attempts may pave the way for a new global vision towards desert farming.

Many have tried but failed to produce lifesaving crops in the burning sand. To be able to cultivate golden corn in the desert would be more mesmerizing to agriculturists the world over than the discovery of a new gold mine. It will not only be valued for its monetary benefits but it would also contribute greatly to achieve global food security and help to improve the lives of the people of the desert regions of the world.

In Ras Al Khaima, (UAE) this vision has already been achieved by G.S Gupta and his team. They took up the challenge and made the desert regions of RAK into lush organic farmlands.

The combo fertilizer method they employed involved the use of different organic fertilizers for the different stages of the crop growth according to the need of the stage. With the help of this method a plot of desert land in RAK was successfully transformed into fertile green landscape.
Lata Thomas, their manager and Shareena Shajeer, their agricultural engineer are confident of re-creating this magic across the globe.

At the end of 2016, a dedicated team of farmers under the leadership of G.S. Gupta aimed at growing corn and coriander in a previously hostile environment: They ploughed the land and spread Sapro Argo fertilizer on the desert sand. Corn seeds were then soaked in Super Auskelp for twenty four hours before sowing, in order to improve germination. The farmers hand-planted the crop with great care and a few days later irrigated the plantation with water containing diluted Sapro Elixir. Two weeks later, the already visible, plants were treated with Super Auskelp.

The use of such combo fertilizers ensured undisturbed and quick growth of the crop as well as controlling the phosphorus and potassium availability for the corns rapid intake. The team was able to produce ready to consume corn in a short time. In addition, it was also observed that the crops were not attacked by any of the common diseases that usually occurred during the growth period. It is therefore assumed that the use of the organic fertilizer combo also assisted in resistance building of the crops.

After the success of growing healthy corn, Mr. Gupta and his team successfully grew coriander on the same desert land in Ras Al Khaima. According to Shareena Shajeer, this is an organic farming revolution.

These truly groundbreaking achievements have helped to change ones perception of desert sand in the context of agriculture.

The pioneering initiatives of this team and their success story in Ras Al Khaima is to be admired and looked forward to for further revolutions in this field. The team is preparing to market their combo fertilizer solution to other parts of the UAE and other desert regions of the world .

The Green loving community is hoping that Mr. G.S. Gupta and his team will spread this organic revolution throughout the Gulf region.

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