Organic farming has gained traction for the enhanced nutritional benefits derived from pesticide-free farming practices. For instance, fruits like berries have surfaced as healthier when produced organically with no pesticide residue, overshadowing their antioxidant properties. Similar health benefits are observed in other fruits produced through organic farming.
However, the elimination of pesticides can often translate to lower yields of blueberry, apple and other fruits. Lower yield can lead to lower ROI, wavering the optimism of organic farmers. For this reason, it’s very important to support organic farmers who put the health of others before their own profits. Here’s how it can be done:
1. Buy Organic Fruits:
Purchasing organic fruits is the most straightforward way to support organic fruit farmers.
- Shop at farmer’s markets in your locality. This ensures that your money goes directly to the organic farmers.
- Check for ‘organic’ labels when buying organic fruits from grocery stores. The more a grocery company sees a surge in demand for organic fruits, the more they’ll directly purchase supplies from local farmers.
- When buying fruit juices like orange juice and other processed products, read the labels carefully to verify whether the company sources its ingredients from organic farms in the region.
For those restrained by the cost barrier, exploring online platforms that offer discounts would be better than wandering around markets. Every purchase of organic fruits, whether fresh or packaged, translates to demand that will sustain and encourage the UAE’s organic farming community.
2. Subscribe to Weekly Fruit Baskets:
Many farms offer fruit basket services, delivering freshly picked fruits on a recurring schedule. Some online grocers partner with organic farmers to provide fruit basket subscriptions, too.
- The key benefit for farmers is guaranteed recurring income. Instead of inconsistent sales, subscriptions provide a steady revenue stream. This allows farmers to reliably forecast earnings and plan their finances for upcoming harvest seasons.
- Subscriptions offer potential discounts compared to one-off purchases. This could decrease the cost barrier inherent to coconut and other organic produce. Subscriptions are ideal for anyone who consumes fruits routinely.
Subscribing to fruit baskets creates a mutually beneficial system for both consumers and farmers.
3. Raise Awareness:
Raising awareness can be a propellant for both buyers and policymakers to support organic farmers.
- Tell people about the benefits of organic farming. Consider highlighting the challenges that organic farmers face to justify why it’s important to support organic farmers.
- Coordinate farm visits to get younger generations interested in sustainable agriculture. Connect with schools and organizations that can make this possible.
- Reach out to the farmers in your community and introduce them to government subsidy plans. Raising awareness about external support among farmers can help them with funding opportunities and ease the acquisition of skilled labour and innovative technologies.
Raising awareness isn’t just about education. The goal should be to inspire concrete actions from consumers, investors, policymakers and others who can directly aid organic farmers.
Supporting Organic Farmers Can Eradicate These Issues:
1. For Farmers:
- Lack of subsidies for organic farming methods.
- Challenges selling organic produce at premium prices.
- Lack of affordable labour and technology.
- Limited access to seedlings and farmland.
2. For Consumers:
- Limited availability of locally-grown organic fruits.
- Lack of transparency about farming practices used for imported produce.
- Price premiums make organic fruits unaffordable for some.
- Lack of education about the benefits of organic agriculture.
- Greenwashing by brands exaggerating organic claims.
3. For the Planet:
- Soil fertility depletion.
- Loss of ecological biodiversity.
- The carbon footprint of imported fruits from distant geographies.
- The potential of toxic agricultural runoff into Arabian Gulf waters.
The Bottom Line:
Organic farming intertwines with the physical, financial, and environmental health of the communities in the UAE. With the projected CAGR of organic farming in the UAE reaching 4.35% by 2028, it’s obvious that more people have been welcoming organic mango, oranges, and other fruits. Nonetheless, this movement to pro-organic farming practices wouldn’t reach its maximum performance if fruit shoppers don’t continue to support the farmers the way they’re doing now.
To ensure that this support is unswerving, buyers should be mindful of the source of every fruit they’re purchasing. Other passive ways to support fruit farmers involve initiating awareness campaigns within the local communities. Further, it’s also important to make farmers aware of the public aid available to them. Organic farming can result in significant improvement for communities that practice and support it.