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Orchards of sweet success

Shykh Seraj
A place called Saleheen in Saudia Arabia is located at 10 KM south of Madinah Munawarah. Saudi Arabia's 2nd largest revenue comes from date production - the first being oil. It's hard to find an area in Saudi Arabia where they don't grow dates that are of several varieties, tastes and colours. The origin of date plant is yet to be known. Iraq, Iran and Egypt are assumed as its place of origin. Date orchards took root in Saudi Arabia during 6000 BC. Since ancient times, date plant has been an evident aspect in providing food, shelter and wood to the Arabian community.
Dates contain 20-70 calories each, depending on size. It also contains 80% of sugar including protein and fiber components such as Boron, Cobalt, Copper, Fluorine, Magnesium, Manganese, Selenium and Zinc.
According to the researchers, there are more than 2.5 crore (25 million) date plants in Saudi Arabia. These plants produce a yearly 1.2 million metric ton (MT) dates, covering 20% of the total date production worldwide and comprising about 13% of Saudi Arabia's farming sector. The regions, Al Qassim and Al Hasa in Saudi Arabia are famous for date farming. Madinah is also well known for producing dates. Madinah is internationally known as the City of Palm.
Rahmat Amin, a Bangladeshi expatriate in Saleheen area in Madinah leased land from Saudi Arabian locals and built a date orchard here. Building and nurturing such orchards require hard work and he's doing it with insufficient manpower.
"What's your yearly expense per plant", I asked.
"1000 riyal"
"And how much for the whole orchard?"
"1 million riyal"
"So, it's profitable, isn't it?"
"In Saudi Arabia, date is no less than gold."
I wanted to know what other varieties he's growing and which varieties are expensive.
"What varieties do you grow in this farm?
"Ajwah"
"Which is the most expensive?”
"Ajwah. There are other varieties in his orchard like Loanda, Safami, Rabia, Madinah etc."
There are numerous stores in Madinah that only sell date and date-made products. These stores contain a variety of dates, but Ajwah is the finest in taste and value. I went to one and found some other varieties. Maghroum- it grows in Madinah and costs 600 taka per Kg in Bangladesh. Safabi that costs 20 riyal; Rabiya...a bit cheap...per Kg price is 8 riyal; Soufri, Sougai and many more.
In Saudi Arabia's Buraidah, every year, world's
biggest date festival is held. Not only that, it's really surprising to look at USA's largest date producing area. 'Palm Desert' in Los Angeles is growing abundant date. The question is how this vast land started growing dates? It was Bangladeshi expatriate in LA, Mr. Md. Islam. This is how the unique fruit from the holy land has reached different countries of the world.
Bangladeshi expatriates have been successful in date farming in recent times and creating interest among. Bangladeshi expatriates in Saudi Arabia are taking new initiatives in date farming. But there's shortage in labour. Governments of both countries can ensure more supply of labours from Bangladesh through negotiation. Saudi Arabia will have more success in date production in future and the Bangladeshi expatriate farmers too will be credited alongside.
Advance greetings on the upcoming Eid-ul-Fitr!