NEW GUINNESS WORLD RECORD

Abu Dhabi: The UAE has been officially recognised as the leading cultivator of date palms in the world with 42 million trees, it was announced on Sunday.

"The UAE has the largest number of date palm trees among the countries of the world with 42 million trees," Jenny Karampoiki, records manager of the Guinness World Records, said at a presentation ceremony held at the Emirates Palace Hotel

"The world record for the most palm trees planted in 10 years is 42 million and was achieved by the UAE."

Shaikh Nahyan said the initiative to grow more date palms was part of a comprehensive development plan to boost the nation's agriculture.

He dedicated the international record to the late Shaikh Zayed and to Shaikh Khalifa and other Rulers, Crown Princes and Shaikhs for their efforts and wholehearted support for date cultivation with the ultimate objective of promoting sustainable development.

Khalifa International Date Palm Awards's reward is Dh2 million.

The award attracted 39 entries from 18 countries two thirds of them Arabs.

khalifa award: Three categories

The winners of the inaugural Khalifa International Date Palm Award are:

- Distinguished Research/Study First prize withheld Second prize claimed by The National Institute of Agronomic Research In Morocco, for its work on the Bayoud fungus.

- Distinguished Producers First prize claimed by Atul Ltd, from India, for its date palm development programme.

- Second prize claimed by The UAE's Emirates Bio-fertiliser Factory for its role in local and regional date palm culture development.

- Distinguished Figure Rakan Maktoum Al Qubaisi, secretary general of the UAE's National Consultative Council, honoured for his efforts to help organise the Muzayanat Rutab annual exhibition.