yield scenario
Worldwide dates production has been concentrated at four main regions: Arabian Peninsula (Saudi Arabia, UAE, Oman, Yemen, Bahrain, Qatar and Kuwait), Al-Maghrab Arabian countries (Algeria, Morocco, Mauritania, Libya and Tunisia), Other Arab countries (Egypt, Iraq and Sudan) and Non-Arab Asian countries (Iran, Pakistan and China). These four Years Production
(T) Area (ha) Yield
T/ha % decrease*
1961 1852592 239972 7.720 -
1970 1881730 263665 7.137 7.5
1980 2659406 357255 7.444 3.6
1990 3431207 624326 5.496 28.8
2000 6501350 1048646 6.200 19.7
2001 7656527 1073276 6.295 18.4
2002 6719816 1074930 6.251 19.2
2003 6669625 1085982 6.142 20.4
2004 7041628 1154291 6.100 25.2
2005 6548201 1119274 5.850 24.2
2006 6701968 1271624 5.270 31.2
2007 6908900 1264931 5.462 29.9
2008 7048089 1264611 5.573 27.8
2009 7527589 1158487 6.498 15.8
2010 7683432 1224139 6.277 18.69
Table 1: World Average Production, harvested area and yield of dates during the last five decades
All the data taken from FAOSTAT
* Author calculated the decrease in yield considering 1961 as the base year
KHALIFA INTERNATIONAL DATE PALM AWARD
36
major areas occupied 94.03 % of the date palm growing areas of the word in 1961. A few other countries of the world like Israel, USA Chad, Niger and Turkey are also included in the list. A keen analysis of last five decades indicted that there was not a significant shift in the areas of date palm growing and still (2010) 96.02
% area lies in these regions (Table 3). However, a significant change of growing areas among these regions occurred in the last five decades. The 2010 data indicated that total growing area in Arabian Peninsula increased to 34.71% of the world, which was 19.82% in 1961. Al-Maghrab Arab countries were sharing 29.38% of
world total harvested area in 1961 that decreased to 23.91% in 2010.
The harvested area increased from 12.00% (in 1961) to 16.43% of the word’s in 2010 in the Other Arab Countries (Egypt, Iraq and Sudan).
A decrease in harvested area of the world’s total occurred in Non-Arab Asian countries because percent figures were 36.63 and 20.97 for 1961 and 2010 respectively (Table 3).
According to 2010 data (FAOSTAT), Arabian countries contributed 75.35% to the world production of dates (Gulf countries = 30.16%, Al- Maghrab Arab countries = 14.58%
and other Arab countries 30.61%).
Non-Arab Asian countries shared 22.06% (Table 3) whereas remaining 4.59% was produced in rest of the world. Dates production increased in Gulf countries from 12.04% (1961) to 30.16% (2010), which was mainly due to increase in area from 19.82% to 34.71 % of the world’s total. There was a decrease of 5.47% of word’s total in the harvested area of date palm in Al-Magrab Arab countries during the period 1961 to 2010, but still share in production remained almost the same (14.00% in 1961 and 14.58% in 2010). The group of three other Arab countries; Egypt, Iraq and Sudan was producing 47.61% of word’s dates in 1961 but its contribution reduced Table 2: Pattern of average yield (T/ ha) of date palm of the top 21 countries during the last five decades
Countries 1961 1970 1980 1990 2000 2005 2010
World 7.720 7.137 7.444 5.496 6.200 5.850 6.277
Egypt 23.950 16.950 22.300 24.842 34.736 33.428 32.255
Iraq - - - 4.412 8.473 8.080 4.608
Saudi Arabia 7.273 7.742 5.671 7.293 5.158 6.438 6.334
UAE 12.000 12.500 9.194 6.385 4.088 4.054 4.181
Pakistan 8.270 8.503 8.044 6.838 7.793 6.056 5.815
Algeria 2.500 2.477 2.996 2.618 3.652 3.491 4.002
Iran 3.841 3.875 3.049 4.339 4.707 4.173 6.533
Sudan 6.023 6.000 10.004 7.0097 9.495 9.764 11.905
Oman 3.077 3.462 3.482 4.800 7.886 7.886 8.816
Libya - - - 4.933 5.000 5.357 5.367
China 4.000 4.349 3.722 6.000 20.833 19.480 14.837
Tunisia 3.630 3.714 3.222 3.867 3.322 2.827 3.529
Morocco 4.778 4.500 4.237 5.454 2.434 1.369 2.719
Yemen 3.644 2.871 1.226 1.351 1.311 2.177 3.868
Israel 8.571 11.500 12.250 10.335 5.668 5.509 6.895
Mauritania 2.889 3.000 3.000 1.786 4.400 2.750 2.495
Qatar - - 3.801 5.723 8.346 13.742 8.704
Chad - - - 3.289 2.368 2.368 1.952
USA 11.420 10.192 12.543 10.777 8.124 6.880 8.443
Bahrain 9.375 9.375 9.500 5.729 20.008 8.823 8.831
Kuwait - - - 4.000 7.522 11.286 6.398
37
THE BLESSED TREE DECEMBER 2013
All the data taken from FAOSTAT
Table 3: Region wise production of dates and harvested area in 1961 and 2010
Region
Countries
Production (T) Area (ha)
1961 2010 1961 2010
Gulf countries
Saudi Arabia 160000 1089350 22000 171975
UAE 6000 825300 500 197400
Oman 40000 276405 13000 31353
Yemen 381000 57849 10456 14955
Qatar - 21491 - 2469
Kuwait - 32561 - 5089
Bahrain 15000 14156 1600 1603
Sub Total - 223100 2317112 47556 424844
% of world - 12.04 30.16 19.82 34.71
Al-Maghrab Arab countries
Algeria 95000 644740 38000 161090
Libya 29100 161000 - 30000
Tunisia 36300 174000 10000 49300
Morocco 86000 119360 18000 43900
Mauritania 13000 21000 4500 8417
Sub Total - 259400 1120100 70500 292707
% of world - 14.00 14.58 29.38 23.91
Other Arab countries
Egypt 479000 1352950 20000 41945
Iraq 350000 567668 - 123000
Sudan 53000 431000 8800 36204
Sub Total - 882000 2351618 28800 201149
% of world - 47.61 30.61 12.00 16.43
Non Arab Asian countries
Iran 300000 1023130 78000 156618
Pakistan 73600 524041 8900 90124
China 4000 147600 1000 9948
Sub Total - 377600 1694771 87900 256690
% of world - 20.38 22.06 36.63 20.97
Grand Total - 1742100 7483601 234756 1175390
Grand % of world 94.03 97.41 97.83 96.02
World’s Total - 1852592 7683432 239972 1224139
38
KHALIFA INTERNATIONAL DATE PALM AWARDto 30.61 % in 2010 indicating a large decrease of production due to lesser yields although area wise share became higher (from 12.00% to 16.4 3%). The Non-Arab Asian countries group indicted a little increase of 1.68% in word’s share of production during this period of 50 years even though harvested area decreased by 15.66 % (from 36.63 in 961 to 20.97%
in 2010) of the total world’s area of date palm. This was an indication of increase in yield in this zone. The share in the harvested area as well total production of rest of word’s
countries decreased a little bit in 2010 in comparison to 1961 indicating still more concentration in above mentioned four zones (Table 3).
2.3 Country level production and yield scenario
Egypt, Iraq, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Algeria, Pakistan, Morocco, Sudan, Yemen and Oman were the top 10 countries in date’s production in 1961. Egypt remained at the top of the list throughout this period except 1980, although per ha yields were diminishing significantly. Top second
in the list was Iran. However, Iraq descended from position second (1961) to 7 in 2010. During this course of time, Yemen started descending in the order and reached at number 14 in 2010 from nine in 1961. Similar was the case of Morocco that descended from seventh to 13th position. UAE was not included in the top 10 list in 1961 but made very good progress and came at position 4 in 2010.
Libya also got itself included in the top 10 list during recent years. More detailed pattern of variations in case of production, harvested area and yield are discussed as under so that countries requiring more concerted efforts of development are highlighted (Table 3 & Fig. 1).
2.3.1 Gulf countries
This group consists of seven countries, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Oman, Yemen, Qatar, Kuwait and Bahrain.
Excluding Yemen, all the other countries are also part of GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council). This group was growing date palm on 47556 ha and producing 223100 MT of dates in 1961, which respectively increased to 2317112 ha and 424844 MT in 2010.
Thus, there was a significant increase in both the parameters (Table 3).
However, alarmingly there has been very little improvement in yields per ha.
2.3.1.1 Saudi Arabia
This country has emerged as the biggest dates producing country in the Gulf group because its harvested area increased to 171975 ha in 2010, which were just 22000 ha in 1961.
Accordingly, the production increased from 160000 (1961) to 1089350 MT during the same period (Table 3).
However, mean yield/ ha decreased from 7.27 (1961) to 6.33 (2010), there have been some improvement in 1970 and 1990 (Table 2 & Fig 2). This indicates the urgent need of efforts to enhance the yields by addressing problems identified in latter section.
Fig. 1: Production of dates from 1990 to 2010
Fig. 2: Yields (T/ha) of Gulf Countries in the last five decades Production of dates during the last two decades in top 21 countries
0 200000 400000 600000 800000 1000000 1200000 1400000 1600000
Bahrain Chad Mauritania Qatar USA Israel Kuwait Yemen Morocco China Tunisia Lybia Oman Sudan Iraq Algeria Pakistan UAE Iran Saudi Arabia
Egypt
Production MT
2010 2000 1990
Yield pattern of dates in Gulf counties
0 5 10 15 20 25
Qatar Kuwait
Oman Bahrain
Saudi Arabia UAE
Yemen World
Yield (T/ha)
2010 2005 2000 1990 1980 1970 1961
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THE BLESSED TREE DECEMBER 2013
2.3.1.2 UAE
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is a federation of seven Emirates:
Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Ras Al khaymah, Fujairah, Umm al Quain and Ajman. Dates are grown in the different parts of the UAE. These are cultivated along the western coast of the Arabian Gulf in areas such as Jumaira in Dubai and Al-Hayra in Sharjah. Likewise, along the Eastern coasts, date palm cultivation stretches from Kalba in the south to Diba in the north. The dates are soft type and mainly consumed at “Rutub” Stage or dried at “Tamr”
Stage. Date palm oases are spreading from the plains and mountains that stretch from Ras-al Khaimah (RAK) in the north to Al-Ain city in the south.
Perhaps this is the sole country, which made progress at a very rapid rate in increase of area under date palm and the resultant very high production (Table 3 and Fig 2). Date palm was just growing on 500 ha in 1961 that increased to 186000 ha in 2010 with respective production of 6000 MT (1961) and 825300 MT (2010). Per ha yields reached to maximum (12.5 T/
ha) in 1970 but thereafter consistently decreased (1961= 12.0 T/ ha and 2010 4.18 T/ ha) during 50 years (Table 2 & Fig 2). Therefore, this problem warrants immediate addressing.
2.3.1.3 Oman
Oman is the third biggest date palm growing country in the Gulf group.
Some 95% of farm holdings in the country have palm tree plantations.
Palm trees thus represent 51% of the total cropped area constituting by far the major and most important agricultural activity. The major area of date palm cultivation is Al-Batinah.
The growing area increased from 13000 ha (1961) to 31353 (2010) with respective productions of 40000 and 276405 MT (Table 3 and Fig 2).
The present yields (2010 = 8.816 T/
ha) are better than the starting year (1961 = 3.08 T/ ha), as indicated with data presented in Table 2 and Fig 2.
However, the present yields are far
behind the potential being recorded in Egypt (Table 2). Hence, this aspect deserves taking a serious note and subsequent remediation.
2.3.1.4 Yemen
Yemen has been popular for the cultivation of palm trees and the production of dates since medieval times. Date palms are widely cultivated in Hadhramout Coast and Wadi, Suqutra Island, Tehama Plains and Al-Mahara. This country was included in the top 10 list of dates producing countries in 1961 but since then its production (381000 MT) started significantly declining and reached 57849 MT in 2010 although area under date palm increased from 10456 to 14955 ha during this period.
Yemen is among a few countries in which the production met a severe decline. The cause was constantly diminishing per ha yields, which were 3.64 T/ ha in 1961, which even descended to 1.31 T/ ha in the year 2000 but luckily started improving a little afterwards and again reached at 3.868 T/ ha in 2010 (Table 2 and Fig 2). The improvement obtained in recent years has not only to be kept up but also to be boosted up to compete at the world level.
2.3.1.5 Qatar
Qatar is relatively new Gulf country where documented date production started in 1980 as compared with other countries of the region that were producing this commodity even before 1961. Since then this country made a good progress in growing and production of dates. Initially, date palm was grown in 805 ha (in 1980) with a production of 3060 MT (Table 2 and Fig 2). The harvested area touched the value of 2469 ha which gave production of 21491 MT in the year 2010. The latest average yield for 2010 was 8.704 T/ ha, being the second highest in the region and higher than the word’s average of 6.277 T/ ha (Tables 2 & 3 Fig 2). It is required that this status should not
only be maintained but also boosted up.
2.3.1.6 Kuwait
Like Qatar, Kuwait is also relatively new dates producing country where documented internationally available data (FAOSTAT) was for the year 1990. At that time, date palm was growing on only 150 ha which reached 5089 ha in 2010. The respective productions were 1400 MT and 32561 MT (Table 3 and Fig 1 & 2). The average yield fairly increased during this period and reached the maximum magnitude of 11.286 T/ ha in 2005.
However, yields started decreasing afterwards and reached 6.398 T/ha in 2010, which is not a good sign and needs correcting measures.
2.3.1.7 Bahrain
Dates production is deteriorating in Bahrain slowly and gradually which should be seriously considered. It has also been a traditional country producing 15000 MT from 1600 ha in 1961 but the total production decreased to 14156 MT from 1603 ha in 2010. Although there was, an increase in harvested area during this period but still production decreased by 844 MT that was only due to per ha yield deterioration (Table 2 & 3 and Fig 1 & 2). The documented yield in 1961 was 9.38 (second highest value in the region) in 1961 that increased to as high as 20.01 T/ha in 2000 but it started declining thereafter and recoded yield was 8.831 T/ ha in 2010. The situation needs mitigation through appropriate decisions and a development project.
2.3.2 AL-Maghrab Arab countries 2.3.2.1 Algeria
Algeria is the biggest country among Al-Maghrab Arab countries in respect of growing date palm and was at sixth position in the list of top ten countries of the world during the year 2010 (Table 3 and Fig 1). Oases cover 57
% in the North-East of the Algerian
40
KHALIFA INTERNATIONAL DATE PALM AWARDSahara (Zibans, Oued Righ, El Oued and Ouargla) and 43 % in the West (M’zab, Touat, Gourara and Saoura).
Date palms are mainly grown in these oases. Modern plantations are located in the Oued Righ valley and the region of Ziban. Dates production in Algeria was 95000 MT in 1961 that enhanced to 644740 MT in 2010 whereas respective values of the harvested area for the same years were 38000 and 161090 ha (Table 3).
This indicated a good progress. An increase of 1.52 T/ha in per ha yields was also observed during 50 years because yields were 2.50 and 4.02 T/ ha in 1961 and 2010 respectively (Table 2 & Fig 1 & 3). However, the yields were far below the world’s average and many leading countries in the field of date’s production. Thus, the situation requires remediation and well-planned development projects be implemented to keep up the pace with the world.
2.3.2.2 Libya
Libya is comparatively emerging country among Al-Maghrab Arab countries where documented date production started in 1990. Since then a good progress in growing and production of dates has been
observed. Date palms are grown in the three main agro-climatic regions of Libya:
The coastal region characterized by high humidity, rain and low heat unit accumulation for fruit ripening.
The central region comprising the entire oasis north of 28° north; it is the most suitable region climatically for excellent date fruit production.
The southern region contains all the oases in the south. Most of the dates produced here are hard, dry fruits.
At the start in 1990, date palm was grown in fairly large area of 17500 ha with production of 74000 MT.
The harvested area in Libya reached 30000 ha in 2010, which gave production of 161000 MT (Table 3 and Fig 1 & 3). The average yield for 1990 was 4.93 T/ ha and for 2010 was 5.367 T/ ha (Table 2 & Fig 3) indicating an increasing trend but still it was lesser than the potential yields obtained at world level. Therefore, improvement and development efforts are direly needed.
2.3.2.3 Tunisia
In Tunisia, dates are principally grown in oases of the Governorates
of Gafsa, Gabes, Tozeur and Kebili.
This country was among the top 10 countries up to 1990 but there after descended a little bit (at 11th position in 2010). Nevertheless, still maintained its progress in respect of increase in production (from 36300 MT in 1961 to 174000 MT in 2010) as well as harvested area (1961 = 10000 ha and 2010 = 49300 ha, Table 3 and Fig 7 & 8). There was a little decrease in yields per ha (1961 = 3.63 and 2010
= 3.529 t/ ha) during this period.
However, recorded yields were far below the worlds’ average as well as the competing countries (Table 2 and Fig 3). A critical analysis of the low yields and development strategies based upon identified problem is the need of the time in this country as far as dates production is concerned.
2.3.2.4 Morocco
Date palms have been cultivated in Morocco for many centuries in the Tafilalet and Ouarzazate regions.
In the 18th century, Morocco was famous for exporting good qualities of dates to Europe. London used to be the principal importer of Mejhoul and Boufeggous dates, which acquired world fame. Nevertheless, today the bayoud disease, which destroyed more than 65% of the palms in the country, indicted that export is no longer possible. Morocco is recording the second lowest yields of date palm after Mauritania in the world (Table 2). Therefore, it should be prioritized country for all the development activities to remediate the situation.
It was among top ten countries until 1990 but thereafter failed to maintain its position and descended down from 8th to 13th position. Date palm was growing on 18000 ha and giving production of 86000 MT in 1961.
However, its production increased only a little bit with a value of 119360 MT despite harvested area increased to 43900 (Table 3 and Fig 1 & 3) because yields decreased from 4.78 T/ ha (1961) to only 2.714 T/ ha in 2010 (Table 2 and Fig 3). Therefore, Morocco can be regarded as the core Fig. 3: Yields of date palm in Al-Maghrab Countries during last five decades
Yield pattern of dates in Al-Maghrab Arab countries
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
Morocco Mauritania
Tunisia Algeria
Lybia World
Yield of dates T/ha
2010 2005 2000 1990 1980 1970 1961
41
THE BLESSED TREE DECEMBER 2013
country for attracting development and improvement efforts at national, regional and global level.
2.3.2.5 Mauritania
This country also had the lowest yield of date palm in the world (2010
= 2.495 T/ ha) which is traditionally coming from the start (1961 = 2.89 T/ ha, Table 2 and Fig 3). Therefore, special investigations should be made to know the hidden causes because yields had never been better during the last 50 years. No significant increase in production of dates was observed because values were 13000 MT in 1961 and 21000 MT in 2010 even after 50 years (Table 3 and Fig 1 & 3) although harvested area increased from 4500 to 8417 ha during this period
2.3.3 Other Arab Countries
This group mainly comprised of Egypt, Iraq and Sudan and sharing 30.61% in world’s production of dates in 2010 whereas the contribution in 1961 was 47.6 %, though, there was an increase in harvested area (1961
= 12 % and 2010 = 18 %) during this period. Thus, the performance has
rather degraded (Table 3 and Fig 1 &
4). This group was leading in recorded yields over the other three groups.
2.3.3.1 Egypt
Egypt is the country leading the world in date’s production throughout 50 years (for which data at world level is available). The Nile valley is the biggest oasis in the world.
The date palm plantations in the Nile delta constitute about 1/3 of the productive date palms of the country. Half of Egypt’s total number of palms is found between Cairo and Aswan, in the strip of cultivated land along the Nile River and the Fayoum depression. The remaining 25 % are found in the western part of Egypt, from the Nile to the Libyan border. It is a vast desert plateau, which is cut from the South East to the North West by a succession of depressions. Date palms are also present but in smaller numbers in South and North Sinai, along the Red Sea, and in Matrouh Governorate. Production of this country was 1352950 (17.61 % of the world’s total) in 2010 and 479000 (26
% of the world) in 1961 (Table 3). Thus, due to increased production in other
countries, the contribution of Egypt to the world decreased. Yield at present and in the past remained the highest in the world but some deterioration was observed during the period of 50 years (Table 2 & Fig 4). Although, as high as values of 34.736 and 33.428 T/ ha were recorded in years 2000 and 2005 respectively but 2010 average is 32.255 T/ha (Table 2). This clearly revealed that the conditions have not been satisfactory even with the world’s leader of date’s production in recent years. A lot of increase in harvested area was observed for the country with the values of 20000 ha in 1961 and 41945 ha in 2010 (Table 3).
2.3.3.2 Iraq
This country was at the second position in top 10 countries producing dates in 1961 and gained first position in 1980 but thereafter a decrease in performance started. The country was at position 4 in 1990 and 2000 but felled to seventh rank in 2005 until 2010. The date’s production was 350000 MT in 1961, which was 567668 MT in 2010 (Table 3, Fig.
2). Data for harvested area and average yield up to 1980 were not available. The yield was 3.72 T/ha in 1985 which started increasing and reached to 8.73 T/ ha in 2000 but degraded afterwards and felled down to 4.608 T/ ha in 2010 (Table 2 Fig 4). The overall indications were loss of performance and antagonistic measures against this degradation are urgently required.
2.3.3.3 Sudan
Sudan is the country that made good progress in date’s production, as indicted through recorded data (Table 3 & Fig 1 & 4, 1961 = 53000 MT and 2010 = 431000 MT). The harvested area also increased from 8800 ha (1961) to 36204 (2010) while the average yield improved also fairly from 6.02 T/ ha (1961) to 11.905 T/ ha (2010), although it was still far below the full potential (34.736 T/ ha obtained by Egypt in year 2000). Therefore, development Fig 4: Yields of date palm in Other Arab Countries in last 5 decades
Yield pattern of dates in other Arab contries
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40
Iraq Sudan
Egypt World
Yield of dates T/ha
2010 2005 2000 1990 1980 1970 1961