According to AMEinfo.com, the announcement comes in the wake of Al Semman Farm winning the 'Best Poultry Farm' award at the 2nd Agricultural Exhibition organised by Abu Dhabi Food Control Authority (ADFCA), in recognition of high standards in breeding and farming of live quails.

Al Semman Farm was the only one to receive this award in the Poultry Farm category.

Al Semman Farm has set in motion a series of measures to attain 'Grade A' certification in hatchery and processing plant in the next ADFCA assessment due in December 2012. It already has 'Grade A' certification in rearing of live quails.

The ambitious targets are in line with the increasing demand for locally produced quail meat and quail eggs, which are valued by discerning consumers for their unique nutritional value and leanness. Al Semman Farm produces 100 per cent natural and hormone-free quails.

"Al Semman Farm is honoured to be recognised as the best poultry farm, and this crowns our many years of hard work and commitment to excellence. In June 2009, we became the first UAE poultry company to achieve the coveted HACCP certification in both poultry farming and processing plant operations. And now, this award from ADFCA further strengthens our standing as a quality-driven poultry farm," commented Sheikh Khalid Bin Abdul Aziz Al Qasimi, Chairman of Liberty Investment Company (LIC), the holding company of the Liberty Group.

The ADFCA award was given after annual assessment of all farms in Abu Dhabi region covering different aspects, including location, layout, policies, standards and procedures.

"From its inception, Al Semman Farm has followed policies and procedures that are very thorough, especially our cleaning and disinfection processes. We don't use antibiotics or any artificial growth promoters (AGPs)," said Peter D'Souza, General Manager, Al Semman Farm.

"ADFCA follows stringent food safety standards and carries out regular site inspections. We are, therefore, proud to be recognised by them through this award."

"By early 2013, our target is to cross the production capacity of 300,000 quails per month, which will bring us close to our current full installed capacity. However, by adding new incubators, hatchers, breeding and rearing houses and an additional shift for the processing plant, we could increase our production capacity by another 50 per cent in the coming years," added Mr D'Souza.

The demand for good quality quail and quail eggs in the UAE has been increasing year after year, because of the growing awareness of their nutritional benefits, especially among more health-conscious people. As local demand exceeds supply, Al Semman Farm has decided to focus on meeting local market demand before considering export inquiries from the region.

Quail farming is considered a challenge in the UAE, because of the extreme climatic conditions. Al Semman Farm is a pioneer in the field, and has been setting benchmarks in quail farming on a commercial scale despite the harsh weather.