Whether you eat them as a snack with juices, salads or sweets, dates have great health benefits. Available in different types and varieties, the fruit contains multiple nutrients.
Dates that date back to more than 5,000 years are rich in soluble fibre, which can lower bad cholesterol and help prevent the buildup of fatty cholesterol deposits on artery walls (known as atherosclerosis).
It also helps in reducing the risk of heart disease, according to the American website ‘Eat This Not That’.
According to research, dates contain powerful antioxidants, including carotenoids, polyphenols and anthocyanin, which play an important role in reducing the risk of chronic diseases, infections and cancer and controlling blood sugar levels. A person with diabetes can consume dates in moderation. It is recommended, however, to consume dates in a well-studied nutritional plan after consulting a doctor.
Dates also protect against anaemia because they contain essential minerals, including iron, which makes them critical for treating anaemia caused by iron deficiency. Iron in it helps supply the body with energy and get rid of fatigue caused by anaemia.
In the Sultanate of Oman, date palms are the first agricultural crop, with a production volume of 377,000 tonnes in 2019. According to the FAO, Oman is one of the major Arab countries (sixth) in date production with more than 8.5 million date palm trees. This gives the country reason for the high self-sufficiency rate in dates up to the level of 99 per cent.
The country’s dates exports recorded 22,000 tonnes, India being the most prominent. On the other hand, imports amounted to 24,000 tonnes in 2019. Besides, Oman’s annual per capita consumption of dates is 82 kilograms, with a daily average of 255 kilograms, the highest in the world. ‘Khalas’ dates are one of the most popular types among the Omani consumers, followed by ‘Fardh’, as dates are at the fore on the Omani table, especially during the holy month of Ramadhan.
quality of dates
As part of the country’s interest in improving the quality of dates and maximising the added value, several projects have been launched in recent years. They aim to address food security issues, improve quality according to international quality standards, and establish integrated factories for sorting and packaging after being purchased from farmers.
The project to plant one million palm trees, directed by the late Sultan Qaboos, is one of the largest projects in this field. It aims to achieve food security goals. There are ten environment-friendly farms and one organic farm. The project adopts the concept of smart agriculture using digital technology. Within the same project, the Sultanate of Oman established one of the largest organic farms in the world called ‘Masrooq Farm’ in the Wilayat of Ibri in the Al Dhahirah Governorate.
This place was selected for organic farming with a capacity of about 100,000 palm trees. According to an official, the farm, developed on 6,400,000 square metres, is expected to produce about 10,000 tonnes of organic dates annually. Masrooq Farm has been certified as the first organic palm farm in the Sultanate of Oman and the region by the National Accreditation Authority of Germany (DAKKS) and the Egyptian Center for Biodynamic Agriculture (COAE).
The Gulf Cooperation Council countries contribute 21 per cent of global production, Saudi Arabia at the forefront with 9.24 per cent, UAE 5.82 per cent, Oman 4.42 per cent, Kuwait 1.07 per cent, Qatar 0.36 per cent and Bahrain 0.13 per cent, according to the statistical data of the FAO for the year 2018.
