The Firdaws Agricultural Project, which is one of the most important agricultural projects of the al-Abbas's (p) holy shrine that aims to provide strategic agricultural crops, achieved a qualitative and quantitative breakthrough in its production of potatoes, both for local industrial and consumer markets, as potato is one of the important agricultural crops for human nutrition in parallel with the importance of wheat and rice.
The authorized director of Al-Liwaa International Company of the al-Abbas's (p) Holy Shrine and the executor of this project, Engineer Adel Malik confirmed this to the al-Kafeel Network, adding: “The Firdaws agricultural project is one of the most important steps taken by the al-Abbas's (p) Holy Shrine in the field of developing the agricultural sector and providing local agricultural crops, after that the country witnessed a massive wave of imported crops of unknown source. Thus, the al-Abbas's (p) holy shrine worked hard through its projects to be strongly present with industrial and agricultural achievements, including Firdaws Farm for the production of potatoes for consumer and industrial markets.
He added: "A part of the project, which is built on an area estimated at (1183) dunums, has been allocated to cultivate the potato crop for two industrial markets, which are the manufacture of chips and puffed potatoes, which is marketed to local companies specialized in this field. While other potatoes are cultivated for the consumer local market, The project was able to achieve high productivity and distinctive quality compared to what is present in the local market, and to contribute to achieving self-sufficiency in this crop, in a way that contributes to achieving the principle of food security."
Malik continued: “The project is not limited to producing crops only, but there are work goals to achieve according to the vision of the al-Abbas's (p) Holy Shrine, including that it serves as a research and guidance center for farmers from inside and outside the Karbala Governorate, in order to benefit them from our experience and introduce modern and sophisticated methods that improve productivity and the abundance of this crop and other crops, in addition to the contribution to employing the workforce and employing expertise in the vital and important field, as well as improving the environment and investing desert lands."
For his part, the project manager, Eng. Haider Al-Dahan, added: “The product is distinguished by its nutritional value, its resistance to weather conditions, its quality as it is free from viral, fungal and bacterial diseases, following an agricultural and fertilization program supervised by the Khair Al-Joud Company for Modern Agricultural Technology affiliated to the al-Abbas's (p) holy shrine. Thus it is the only kind of diverse use that is being produced in the project. "
He concluded: “Our products, whether for industrial or consumer market, are subject to on-site laboratory examination, and by the grace of God, they have proven successful and suitable for consumption and are conform to the specifications. We hope to increase the production yield and add other areas after we have achieved success in cultivating this crop with sandy soil, which was previously impossible. "