of rice grown in a Sharjah desert.
The crop s production is an agricultural milestone for the UAE, as the nation works on bolstering food security amid rising concerns over climate change.
The Covid-19 pandemic has also pushed countries across the world to focus on becoming food self-sufficient.
A 1,000-square-metre plot in Al Dhaid is being used to grow the rice. It is a part of a research project by the UAE Ministry of Climate Change and Environment, in partnership with the Rural Development Administration of the Republic of Korea.
The
harvest is scheduled to take place in February, followed by processing to make the rice edible.