Organic vegetables grown by the special needs community in UAE to be sold in Lulu Hypermarkets

23 April 2013, Abu Dhabi : A memorandum of understanding has been signed between Lulu Hypermarket and Zayed Higher Organisation for Humanitarian Care and Special Needs (ZHO) to sell and promote organic products, grown locally by the special needs community in Abu Dhabi. The organic products will be sold and promoted across Lulu outlets within and outside the UAE. The agreement was signed by Mohammad Fadil Al Hameli, Deputy Chairman and Secretary General of ZHO, and M. A. Yusuff Ali, Managing Director, Lulu Group International. The agreement is a step towards encouraging a productive and social life for people with special needs by putting their potential to good use at the Zayed Agricultural Centre for Development and Rehabilitation in Bani Yas, Abu Dhabi. As per the MoU, Lulu will buy the agricultural produce grown in the farms of the Zayed Centre and promote it through its vast network of stores across the UAE. The main vegetables grown are cucumber, capsicum, eggplant, cabbage, lettuce and turnip. Around 75 people with special needs are working at the Centre for Development and Rehabilitation. “Through this agreement we will be promoting the local agricultural sector and also supporting the special needs community. We’ll also be able to cut down carbon emission due to reduction in transportation of locally grown vegetables,” said M. A. Yusuff Ali.