Report on Department of Agriculture and Fisheries visit on 18 November 2018

In continuation of the previous meeting with officials of the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries, a visit was arranged to look at problems existing in greenhouses and date palm farms. A team from the Department of Engineering, along with Mr Aflah Al Jahdhami, coordinator, Training and Consultancy Services, visited greenhouses on the Tanaam road and date palm farms in Al Araqi.  During their visit, issues that are faced in maintaining greenhouses and date palms were discussed. Mr Khalid Al Shamakhi, a representative of the Department of Agriculture, stated that a high population of red beetles was found in the roots of the palm trees, spoiling the yield. He added that a permanent and reliable solution for this will show a significant growth in date palm yield. The team decided to find out how to predict the early stages, using recent technologies such as ultrasound techniques, IR Imaging and B-Scan techniques.

The team, consisting of Dr K. Elangovan, HoS Mechanical Engineering, Dr Ilankumaran, HoS Electrical and Electronics Engineering, Mr Arthur Davis, Lecturer, Mechanical Engineering and Mr Joseph Micheal, Lecturer, Mechanical Engineering, along with four students from Electrical Power Engineering who work on the TRC-funded project on the segregation of date palms on its quality. Mr. Aflah Al Jahdhami coordinated the visit.

Mr Khalid Al Shamakhi and Mr Naif Al Ghafri represented the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries and Mr Salim Al Hinai, owner of the greenhouse, were on hand to explain the issues facing date palm farms and greenhouses.

Attendants from Ibri College of Technology

            Dr K. Elangovan, HoS, Mechanical Engineering

Dr Ilankumaran, HoS, Electrical and Electronics Engineering

            Mr J. Arthur Davis, Lecturer, Mechanical Engineering

            Mr Aflah Al Jahdhami, Coordinator, Training and Consultancy Services

            Mr Joseph Micheal, Lecturer, Mechanical Engineering