Huge crowds throng the venue of Local Dates Festival

A large number of visitors thronged the opening of the Local Dates Festival 2016 at Souq Waqif, which features a profusion of fresh dates grown in Qatar and are available for sale.

Compared to its previous edition, this year’s festival, which is organised by the Ministry of Municipality and Environment, is longer, giving visitors until August 14 to see and buy varieties of dates from 18 local farms.

“The festival has been enhanced from the previous edition which lasted just three days to 18 days. Also, the previous festival was held mainly to showcase the varieties of local dates, while this year the dates are for sale,” Yusuf Al Khulaifi, Director, Agricultural Affairs Department at the ministry, told The Peninsula at the launch.

“Through this festival, we promote locally produced dates by providing local farms with the chance to sell their produce directly to visitors and for the public to support local products,” said Al Khulaifi.

There are more than 20 local varieties of dates, some of which are on sale at lower prices — Khalas, Khanizi, Arziz, Barhi, Guar, Khasab and Shishi, among others.

About 3kg of Khalas, the best and most popular variety, is offered at QR20. “The dates are being sold here at reasonable prices, cheaper than those in the market,” he said.

The total number of registered farms in Qatar has reached 1,340, of which 839 are active. Most of these farms grow date palms which are cultivated in a total area of 25,985 hectares, with 469,616 trees.

Qatar produces an average of 31,181 tonnes of dates annually and is self-sufficient, meeting 88.4% of demand. Qatar imports about 4,396 tonnes, mostly from Saudi Arabia and Oman and exports 181 tonnes.

The ministry has launched research studies to boost the quantity and quality of date production in the country.

“The Agricultural Research Department at the ministry is working to finding ways to improve the quality and quantity of date production,” Al Khulaifi said.

Apart from fresh dates, high quality saplings are also being sold at the festival. A staple food in the Middle East and the Indus valley for thousands of years, dates have been valued for nutritional and health benefits. The festival aims at highlighting the advantages of including dates in people’s daily diet.

Courtesy: thepeninsulaqatar.com