Now, farmers get expert agri-advice at their fingertips
MAYS IBRAHIM (LIWA CITY)Questions about crop care are part of every farmer's day, but the answers are often buried in academic papers or require bringing in experts who are miles away. This Emirati entrepreneur is changing that by providing timely and reliable expert guidance at farmers' fingertips.Hamad Al Kirbi spent the past five years developing Fesilah, a mobile application that cuts through the barriers of distance and complex scientific literature.
In an interview with Aletihad at the 21st Liwa Date Festival in Liwa City, he explained how this tech-solution operates as an all-in-one agricultural knowledge base. Its vast repository of resources includes more than 3,700 scientific articles, carefully curated and summarised to just two pages for easy reading - a crucial feature for busy farmers who may not have the time to sift through lengthy research papers.Topics range from seed selection and irrigation techniques to sustainability, plant diseases, post-harvest practices, and even agricultural marketing.The app also catalogues over 750 varieties of domestic, foreign, and seasonal crops, along with details on more than 750 international and local agricultural exhibitions, and over 650 global conferences and seminars.Beyond information access, the smart application provides a virtual "Dr. Fesilah" service, according to Al Kirbi.This allows farmers to communicate with a team of expert agricultural engineers for tailored advice on cultivation methods, irrigation systems, fertiliser use, pruning techniques, post-harvest handling, or diagnoses and treatments for plant health issues.Although launched only five months ago, the application has already attracted over 15,000 agricultural users across the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Oman, with plans to expand globally and support additional languages.
Inspiration Behind the App The idea was born from Al Kirbi's experience working in an administrative role in the public sector, where he witnessed firsthand the difficulties farmers face without immediate access to expert guidance."It's hard for agricultural engineers to be onsite all the time," he said. "Fesilah solves that by bringing expert advice directly to farmers' phones."Al Kirbi believes the app can play a vital role in bolstering regional food security. By offering accurate, localised guidance, Fesilah empowers farmers to increase yields, reduce waste, and adopt more sustainable practices, he said.
The app's name, Fesilah, is derived from the Arabic word for a young offshoot of a date palm. According to Al Kirbi, the concept is also inspired by a hadith of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), which encourages planting trees even if the world were coming to an end.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Al Etihad
6 hours ago
- Al Etihad
Irrigation goes smart as AI-powered ‘Falaj' optimises water usage at UAE farms
17 July 2025 22:09 MAYS IBRAHIM (LIWA CITY)Innovators in the UAE have brought the ancient falaj irrigation system into the age of AI — this time as a tech-driven solution that promotes smart, sustainable farming amid climate and water United Arab Emirates University (UAEU), a team of experts has developed a next-generation 'Falaj' — a smart irrigation system that integrates advanced Internet of Things (IoT) technology with artificial intelligence (AI) to optimise water usage. Mansoor Al Hosani, a horticulture student from the UAEU's College of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, walked Aletihad through its features at Liwa Date Festival in Al Dhafra Region. The system is designed to optimise greenhouse irrigation through a seamless combination of smart sensors, AI algorithms, and remote-access capabilities, Al Hosani said. It operates on three main functions: monitoring, control, and alarm. The monitoring feature collects real-time data from sensors that measure soil moisture, temperature, pH levels, and electrical conductivity — metrics crucial for maintaining soil health and crop productivity. This continuous stream of information enables farmers to understand the needs of their crops and apply the precise amount of water at the right time, Al Hosani said. How It Works The control system is managed through a user-friendly mobile app that gives farmers full oversight of irrigation processes. 'This way, you don't need engineers or workers on-site all the time,' said Al Hosani. 'You can manage everything from anywhere in the world.'Users can choose to automate water delivery or make manual adjustments, and the app's intuitive interface ensures accessibility even for those with limited technical experience, he adjusting water flow or responding to changing environmental conditions, farmers have complete flexibility at their is also equipped with an alarm system, which immediately notifies users when environmental conditions deviate from optimal levels. Alerts for issues like excess heat or humidity allow farmers to take timely action before such changes can harm crop Hosani noted that this intelligent infrastructure is supported by several key components, including a soil moisture monitoring station known as the 'watchman.'A smart valve ensures efficient water distribution based on real-time pressure data, while a solar-powered system reduces reliance on the electric grid. The system also includes a frequency converter cabinet that helps maintain stable water pressure throughout the irrigation of this data is presented in real-time through a centralised dashboard, which enables fast, informed decisions, enhancing overall farm management and in collaboration with NAWA, a technology company specialising in agricultural innovations, Falaj supports various communication technologies, including 4G, Wi-Fi, and LoRa wireless protocols. Al Hosani also noted that the irrigation system ensures farming information is protected through robust data encryption.
Campaign ME
8 hours ago
- Campaign ME
Waleed Isaac to join NEP Group as President for Middle East, Asia
NEP Group has appointed Waleed Isaac to join the company as President for its operations in the Middle East and Asia regions. Isaac will start his new role on 1 August, bringing a wealth of expertise to the company as it aims to grow and invest in the region to support broadcasters, sports leagues, rights holders and content producers of local and global major broadcast productions and live events. 'I couldn't be more pleased that Waleed has accepted the role of President for our growing Middle East and Asia region, and that he will oversee our teams based in the UAE, KSA, India and Singapore,' said Martin Stewart, CEO of NEP. 'He brings a tremendous level of executive leadership experience and understanding of the region, which will be instrumental as we seek to drive sustainable, profitable growth through technological innovation, operational excellence, and strong relationships.' Based in Dubai, his experience covers both market and cultural insights from his work across the Middle East, India and Singapore, as well as internationally in cities ranging from Atlanta to London to Paris, along with many others. His previous work has included industries such as energy, infrastructure and oil and gas alongwith global corporations such as GE, BrandSafway, and, most recently, Loxam Group, where he served as Regional COO for the Middle East since 2022. He has also worked with businesses that support the media industry. 'I am thrilled to join NEP as we continue to build upon the momentum and investment we have made across the region,' Isaac said on his appointment. 'I've been listening to the market and am very much looking forward to bringing NEP's tailored, cutting-edge solutions and expertise to our customers to meet their unique needs.' He also said he will focus on 'empowering and resourcing our teams as I begin my new role, so our people continue to deliver at the highest level for our customers.' An electrical engineer by training and an MBA, NEP Group claims Isaac's experience encompasses an understanding of both the operational and commercial sides of business. He is fluent in three languages: English, Arabic and French. Upon his official start, Isaac will join the NEP Media Services Executive Team, and he will spend his first months getting to know NEP's teams as well as meeting with key customers. In September, he will join the NEP global team at the IBC Show in Amsterdam.
Al Etihad
8 hours ago
- Al Etihad
Fatima bint Mubarak affirms UAE's global leadership in women's empowerment
17 July 2025 19:43 ABU DHABI (WAM)Her Highness Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak 'The Mother of the Nation', Chairwoman of the General Women's Union (GWU), President of the Supreme Council for Motherhood and Childhood, and Supreme Chairwoman of the Family Development Foundation (FDF), affirmed that the United Arab Emirates, under its wise leadership, places the highest priority on women, based on the conviction that the partnership between women and men is a cornerstone of sustainable development and a key pillar for national progress and confidence in the a statement marking the High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development in New York, H.H. Sheikha Fatima said the UAE has made significant strides toward achieving Goal 5 of the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, which focuses on gender equality and women's Highness highlighted the UAE's success in empowering women to play a pivotal role in decision-making and in all aspects of life—political, economic and social—making them integral to the nation's prosperity and a model of responsibility at both regional and global levels.H.H. Sheikha Fatima emphasised that empowering women has been a long-standing principle laid down by the UAE's Founding Father, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, who believed in the potential of Emirati women and encouraged them to contribute to the nation's progress. She recalled his words, 'I am a supporter of women... I always say this to affirm their right to work and fully participate in building their nation,' and 'Women are half of society.'She praised the achievements made under the leadership of President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, and Their Highnesses the Supreme Council Members and Rulers of the Emirates, along with His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of the Presidential efforts enabled the UAE to rank 13th globally and 1st regionally in the 2025 UNDP Gender Equality Index, score 82.5 out of 100 in the World Bank's 2024 Women, Business and the Law report, and place 1st regionally in the 2023/2024 Georgetown University Women, Peace and Security Fatima highlighted the UAE Constitution's guarantees of equality before the law, access to healthcare, education and employment. She pointed to the 2018 Cabinet approval of the first legislation on equal pay, including Federal Decree-Law No. 27 of 2018 on equal pay for men and women in the federal government, and Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021 regulating labour relations in the private sector, which mandates equal pay for equal work or work of equal noted the launch of the UAE National Strategy for Women Empowerment 2023–2031, which built on achievements in national development. Women now occupy 50 percent of the Federal National Council seats, placing the UAE among the top countries for gender-balanced parliamentary 26 percent of ministerial positions are held by women, who lead key portfolios including education, climate change, community development and family affairs. Emirati women also constitute 71 percent of UAE nationals in the public and private sectors, 63 percent of leadership roles in the federal government, and 13 percent of the country's ambassadors Fatima also highlighted the role of Emirati women in entrepreneurship, noting that more than 25,000 Emirati women own over 50,000 commercial licences with investments exceeding AED60 the education and technology fields, she noted that 46 percent of STEM graduates in the UAE are women, and they make up 50 percent of the national workforce in the space sector. Women also account for 55 percent of the overall labour stressed that the UAE's efforts to empower women have extended globally, through initiatives such as the Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak Women, Peace and Security Initiative, which promotes women's contributions to peace and dialogue, and has trained over 500 women to also referenced the Arab Women's Economic Empowerment Observatory, adopted at the 2023 Leaders' Summit to foster partnerships across the Arab world, and the Sheikha Fatima Initiative to Empower Rural Women in Africa in the agricultural expressed her pride in the contributions of national institutions like the General Women's Union, the Supreme Council for Motherhood and Childhood, and the UAE Gender Balance Council, all of which support and empower women through impactful programmes that advance the Sustainable Development remarks coincide with the opening of the High-Level Political Forum in New York, held under the United Nations Economic and Social Council, under the theme "Advancing sustainable, inclusive, science‑ and evidence‑based solutions for the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its Sustainable Development Goals for leaving no one behind'. The forum serves as the UN's primary platform to drive global efforts to meet the Sustainable Development Goals by UAE is participating in the forum with an official delegation presenting its pioneering national model for sustainable development, inclusive of all sectors of society. The delegation is also engaging in global knowledge exchange and collaboration with international bodies and UN agencies to support development initiatives bint Abdullah Al Falasi, Secretary-General of the Supreme Council for Motherhood and Childhood and member of the UAE Gender Balance Council, stated that the forum includes voluntary national reviews by participating countries to assess and accelerate progress towards the 2030 Agenda. This year's focus is on Goals 3, 5, 8, 14 and noted that the UAE's participation reflects its long-standing commitment to sustainable development and its global application of successful national models. The forum also provides a platform to discuss the UAE's Vision 2045 for sustainable development, aligned with the country's forward-looking approach that builds bridges between today and the future for the benefit of people, communities and the planet—particularly in relation to Goal 5, gender equality. The forum has served as the UN's principal platform for sustainable development since its establishment in 2012, playing a key role in reviewing country-level progress toward the 2030 Agenda.
