Demand for dates surge during Ramadan, boosting local production in Jordan

Record ID: 1668501

  • Title: Demand for dates surge during Ramadan, boosting local production in Jordan
  • Date: 14th April 2022
  • Summary: BALQAA, JORDAN (RECENT - MARCH 23, 2022) (REUTERS) PALM GROVE AT FARM IN JORDAN VALLEY WORKER POLLINATING DATE FRUITS PALM GROVE OWNER, NABIL ARAR, STANDING IN FARM VARIOUS OF WORKER CLIMBING DOWN PALM TREE (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) PALM GROVE OWNER, NABIL ARAR, SAYING: “Among the major challenges we face is water (scarcity), marketing and the fluctuations that happened (in t
  • Embargoed: 28th April 2022 10:06
  • Keywords: Agriculture Dates production Exports Jordan Ramadan
  • Location: BALQAA, AMMAN, JORDAN
  • City: BALQAA, AMMAN, JORDAN
  • Country: Jordan
  • Topics: Economic Events,Middle East
  • Reuters ID: LVA001168414042022RP1
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: Designing Ramadan themed gift baskets filled with dates in a pristine shop in Amman, Sara Nimri, who manages the outlet specializing in dates, says demand for the caramel-like fruit has multiplied since the beginning of the holy month.
    Considered a main staple for many who break their fast with dates in keeping with the teachings of prophet Mohammad and for its nutritional value, Ramadan is a key season.
    “Half of our sales are in Ramadan,” said palm grove owner, Nabil Arar, who has been growing the crop since 1998.
    While previously dependent on imports Jordanians are increasingly buying local.
    The country produced 26 thousand tonnes of dates in 2018 covering 76% of local demand, a figure which stood at 36% in 2001, the national dates cultivation strategy reveals.
    With an annual production growth of around 10%, Jordanian dates, especially Medjool - a variety that is larger in size than others - have a competitive advantage, the chairman of the dates association, Anwar Haddad said.
    “Their quality is different as they are produced in an area (climate) that is particular to Jordan at 400 meters below sea level, which means the fruit is grown in an area with high oxygen levels and consistent temperatures. Therefore, they ripen fully and naturally,” he added.
    Jordan currently cultivates 650,000 palm trees, the majority of those of the mejdool variety in the Jordan Valley, the strategy reveals.
    Along with the increase in local sales, exports are also rising, with Jordan ranking 12th among world dates exporters in 2019 with the UAE, Qatar, France, United Kingdom and Turkey as its largest markets.
    Nevertheless, despite these strides, the sector continues to face an amalgam of challenges including water scarcity, the need for more trained labour, high production costs and access to international markets.
    Highlighted as a promising sector, the government aims to increase the number of palm trees to a million by 2030 according to the dates cultivation strategy.
    It extends support to the sector by enacting policies to boost production and expand exports through running wide pesticides campaigns, facilitating trade shows and offering investment incentives.
    (Production: Jehad Abu Shalbak, Hams Rabah)
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