Dubai Launches Agri Trading Platform To Boost Farm Imports From India

An agricultural trading platform has been established in Dubai to connect Indian farmers with food companies in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) as the Arab country seeks to enhance its food security amid the disruption of supply chains caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

The Dubai Multi Commodities Centre's platform, named Agriota and developed with India's CropData Technology, will enable trading in cereals, pulses, oilseeds, fruits, vegetables, spices and condiments.

According to Argiota's brochure, it is an agricultural commodity marketplace to connect bulk buyers directly
with farmers' ecosystem, while providing neutrality, traceability and trust.

The UAE is dependant on imports for the bulk of their food, medical, consumer and industrial supplies. Due to its arid climate crop and livestock cultivation becomes difficult.

Data from the Department of Agriculture shows that India's principal exports to the UAE in 2014-15 were boneless
meat, meat of sheep, shrimp and prawns, onions, cashew nuts, wheat and muslin, rice, sugar etc.

The UAE has "the ultimate goal of positioning our nation as a world leading hub in innovation-driven food security," said Ahmed Bin Sulayem, DMCC's chief executive officer, in a statement.

The Arab government has taken several steps to ensure uninterrupted access to supplies since the outbreak of coronavirus, that has disrupted supplychains around the world. Its council is also looking at farming rice to reduce reliance on imports.