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Thousands of families and friends flocked to the ever-blossoming Bahrain International Garden Show (BIGS) to learn about agricultural and landscape design trends and solutions, to snap up vibrant vegetables and fabulous flora, as well as to encourage youngsters to pick up the noble trade.
This year’s annual showcase, which was staged at the Bahrain International Exhibition and Convention Centre and organised by the National Initiative for Agricultural Development (NIAD), aimed at growing a new generation of experts in the field as part of its theme ‘Agriculture as a Promising Career Choice’.
“This year’s theme highlighted the increasing demand for experts with specialised skills in the fields of agricultural technology and sustainable agricultural practices,” said Shaikha Maram bin Isa Al Khalifa, NIAD secretary-general.
“Extensions of this specialisation include food production, power and technical system management, environmental systems, agri-business ventures and entrepreneurship.
“The show also highlighted technologies that contributed to agricultural sustainability and showcased a variety of products, solutions and innovations by local and non-local companies taking part in the event.”
The themed stands were located in Hall Two of the exhibitions awareness-zone that featured various companies, organisations, educational institutions and civil society associations from around the world including Italy, Spain, Poland, Russia, Netherlands, Greece, Switzerland, UK, Canada, Turkey, US, Japan, India, Sri Lanka and Indonesia, as well as from a number of regional countries such as Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Oman, Morocco, Jordan, Palestine, Syria and Egypt.
Students from the UAE University’s College of Food and Agriculture chatted about their experiences to visitors while the Sultan Qaboos University’s College of Agricultural and Marine Sciences answered questions about agricultural courses.
Data and figures related to agriculture in Bahrain were also presented during the event, as well as results of a survey conducted by NIAD on public institutions, private institutions, educational organisations and civil society organisations to find out about available agricultural jobs and requirements needed to encourage more young people be become a part of this vital sector.
Floral arranging careers were also featured during lectures staged at the five-day event organised by Lala Bella founder Nahla Al Mahmood, in co-operation with NIAD, and presented by UK-based Judith Blacklock Flower School, Russian floral designer Dmitry Turcan and Kuwait-based Lily Fleur Flower School and Boutique founder, Anfal Al Ansari.
Students from several schools in Bahrain also participated in floral-arranging competitions.
Meanwhile, the educational and entertaining Khalasi Garden proved a big draw, attracting youngsters with activities, games and awareness-raising workshops in a bid to promote the career choice from an early age.
While students roamed the informative and elaborately decorated stands, visitors snapped up products such as jars full of preservatives, potted plants, seeds and other handmade items sold by different associations to raise funds for schools and charities.
Jalila Ismail, from the Bahrain Young Ladies Association, sold compost and fertiliser as well as pretty hand-painted stones with special messages.
The compost was priced at BD1.5 per 1kg and is used to enrich soil used for growing and the stones from BD1 to BD6 helped raise awareness, as well as finances, to support the charity and the women in need that are either widowed or the sole providers of their households.
“The Garden Show is fantastic which is why this is our third year participating in it,” she said. “It raises awareness about our association and allows members to sell their products as well as educate people about our many projects.
“For example, we have a recycling project that will provide women with low incomes sustainable revenue by collecting waste in their neighbourhoods, including plastic, aluminum, cardboards and even some home appliances and electronic devices.
“Our aim is to support divorced and widowed women, or those with unemployed husbands that are suffering from ill health.”
The 7,000sqm exhibition also hosted more than 170 exhibitors displaying different landscape and gardening designs as well as innovative agricultural products, flowers and foliage, as well as household items such as floral tote bags and paisley covered tea pots.
The market zone in Hall One boasted several agricultural nurseries and farms promoting a variety of flowers, seedlings, farming tools, flowerpots and garden furniture and lighting equipment.
Hejair Gardening & Landscaping has been participating in the exhibition since 2008. Manager Ashwini Lobo, said: “The show gives us a chance to introduce our products to old customers and new.
“We have peaches, lemon and orange trees from Italy, as well as other plants and products from Syria, China, Thailand, Vietnam and Holland.”
Shopper Soma Sarkar admired the variety of bamboo plants and potted flowers on show which she felt would make ideal additions to her miniature garden collection placed on her balcony.
“In my opinion, the Garden Show is fabulous,” said the 37-year-old housewife from Mahooz. “I come every year to get ideas to spruce up my little balcony garden. I love to collect plants.”
The exhibition also featured a small farmers market hosting 14 local farmers displaying buckets and boxes full of colourful fruits and vegetables. Two spaces were allocated for farmers who had won accolades during the second edition of the King Hamad Prize for Agricultural Development, while the rest were allotted for a dozen Bahraini farmers selected following a draw for plots.
Visitor Renee Gaulin, 62, a housewife living in Juffair, said “This showcase is even more amazing than last year. What I liked most about the show this year was the part where the kids were able to display the plants they had grown and win prizes, as well as the flourishing farmers market.”
The range of displays was impressive too. For example, orchid lovers couldn’t resist snapping up blooms of different colours from BYK Intertrade, a floral shop from Thailand. There were also necklaces and brooches in orchid designs on sale at the stand. General manager Phakkhathep Phakakat, said: “This was our first time participating in the show and it was such a success. There was a high demand on our orchids that now we are considering opening a shop here!
“We flew in our stand designer from Paris and his work definitely impressed by attracting a never-ending stream of shoppers.”
BIGS was held under the patronage of His Majesty King Hamad Bin Isa Al Khalifa and inaugurated by Her Royal Highness Princess Sabeeka bint Ibrahim Al Khalifa, president of the consultative council of the NIAD.
Sponsors, who also had stands at the event, included the Bahrain World Trade Centre, the Bahrain Petrochemical Industries Company, Kuwait Finance House, Alba, Bahrain Airport Company, Bahrain National Gas, VIVA Bahrain, Mumtalakat and Al Salam Bank Bahrain.
