The National Initiative for the Development of the Agricultural Sector (NIAD), in cooperation with the Information and eGovernment Authority (iGA), the NSSA and a number of official institutions, launched the first comprehensive agricultural platform in the Kingdom of Bahrain to develop and promote the agricultural sector by unifying national efforts to serve the sector, by establishing a national database that helps achieve the economic, social and environmental development goals of the Kingdom.

During the inauguration ceremony, Her Excellency Shaikha Maram bint Isa Al Khalifa, Secretary General of the National Initiative for the Development of the Agricultural Sector, confirmed that the platform AGRO. BH comes in implementation of the high directives of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, the King of the country, may God protect him, the need to establish an effective agricultural sector that is compatible with the objectives of the reform project and the Economic Vision 2030 and seeks to find solutions that contribute to achieving food security, and in translation of the vision of the Government of the Kingdom of Bahrain headed by His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, may God protect him, with regard to securing an environment supportive of sustainable development and stimulating economic growth based on Knowledge and generous direction established by Her Royal Highness Princess Sabeeka bint Ibrahim Al Khalifa, wife of His Majesty the King, through her chairmanship of the Advisory Board of the National Initiative for the Development of the Agricultural Sector and her diligent follow-up of its work.

Her Excellency Sheikha Maram indicated that the platform came to keep pace with the various changes and challenges facing the agricultural sector in the Kingdom, and to make this initiative an integral part of the agricultural development process and the development of the agricultural sector, explaining that the platform serves the agricultural sector directly and is linked to many other national projects by providing updated and accurate data that helps in the development process of the sector, and supports the agricultural activities and programs of the initiative and documents them in a public platform in cooperation with the public and private sectors.

Worth mentioning is that the platform aims are as follows:

  • Data Centralization & Management
  • Investment Incentive & Aid
  • Historical Documentation
  • Research & Development

For the government entities of the Kingdom of Bahrain, the platform AGRO. BH can be used:

  1. As an essential tool to determine trends in the Agriculture Sector by viewing Agricultural Publications and Research, Climatology, Soil, Water and Agriculture Sector Workforce data.
  2. Land Cover, Agricultural Zones and Agriculture Land Use Management data can also be accessed in order to make well informed high level decisions.