Gardening enthusiasts are being encouraged to get their shears ready for next year's Bahrain International Garden Show (BIGS).

The show will be opened on February 24 and will run for four days under the theme 'Tree Care', bringing the event back to its gardening roots, said a report in the Gulf Daily News (GDN), our sister publication.

Details of the show were announced by National Initiative for Agricultural Development (NIAD) secretary general and BIGS general co-ordinator Shaikha Maram bint Isa Al Khalifa at a Press conference yesterday.

“The million dollar question is always what the theme will be and this year it will be tree care,” said Shaikha Maram.

“Some people might say that's a simple theme, but it's important.

“In the last three years, we focused on improving agriculture overall and talked about investment, farming technology and agriculture training.

“Now that we have covered them all, we are returning to gardening with tree care, particularly focusing on pruning and trimming, as well as structural support.

“We also want to talk about the right care and how to transport trees, especially in an environment where there's a lot of development and building.

“Getting rid of something that has been growing for years is a waste, so we need to understand how to move them properly.

“Our partnership with UNIDO will continue, where we aim to give a chance to agriculture entrepreneurs from Bahrain and abroad to learn and exchange ideas with each other,” she said.

“Bahraini entrepreneurs have benefited greatly from this and so have the international participants.

“In the past it's mostly been Arab participants, with some from Europe and Asia. Who knows, perhaps this year we'll have someone from America.

“Tamkeen's support is also still there, despite the changes in the mechanisms or procedures. Local companies can still approach them and participate in the show.

“Bahrain Chamber of Commerce and Industry will also be supporting us this year, as last year they supported the Bahraini Farmer's Market pavilion.”

Meanwhile, details of the 51st Bahrain Garden Club (BGC) competition were also revealed at the Press conference.

“Usually we focus on amateur photographers, but this year we'll be accepting professionals for the first time,” said BGC president Zahra Abdulmalik.

“We're also going to have programmes at the coffee shops and have little recipes on them.”

The Bahrain International Garden Show is held under the patronage of His Majesty King Hamad, with support of Her Royal Highness Princess Sabeeka bint Ibrahim Al Khalifa, wife of His Majesty and National Initiative for Agricultural Development president. - TradeArabia News Service