Date Palm Production - Research Paper Example

Palm Production Table of Contents 3 Introduction 4 CHAPTER PALM OVERVIEW 4 Definition of terms …5 Method of research 6 Findings 6 Uses of date palms 7 Cultivars and Genetics of Date Palms 10 Propagation of date palms 11 CHAPTER 2: PESTS AND DISEASES OF DATE PALMS 13 CHAPTER 3: PROBLEMS THAT LIMIT DATE PALM CULTIVARS PRODUCTIVITY 15 SWOT Analysis of growing date palms 16 Conclusion 18 References 19 Abstract Date palm production has been increasing over the years since the plant was discovered about 6,000 years ago. They are commonly produced in the Middle East with states such as Saudi Arabia emerging as the leading producers. However, dates are cultivated in North Africa, parts of Europe and the United States. While the regions of production may be different, the producers of dates face similar issues such as diseases and marketing challenges. This research paper examines the worldwide production of dates while specifically focusing on the Middle East with regards to the practices, problems, and means of solving the highlighted problems. The paper will analyze studies previously conducted on some of the issues as support towards the highlighted issues. The studies will focus on cultivars of date palms, the leading producers of dates, challenges to date palm cultivation, and finally the means applied in resolving these challenges. Introduction The date palm, otherwise known as date or in scientific terms Phoenix dactylifera is one of the most popular palms known to man. It is categorized under the Phoenix genus and is mostly grown for its fruits that are edible and very sweet. Date palms are trees of the Palmae or Arecaceae family, that grow to heights of between 21 to 23 meters. The stems of date palms are typically straight with strong marks of the pruned leaves. The stems terminate at the top where a crown of shiny pinnate leaves of averagely 5 meters is attached. Date palms are iconic in the Arabic world and parts of North Africa. They are also found in California, USA. They prefer desert climate and chiefly the irrigable areas. The tree that begins to produce dates when it is about five years old has a lifespan of about 150 years. Apart from producing edible fruit, date palms play ornamental and religious roles to both Christians and Muslims. In as much as this tree seems to benefit man so much, it encounters problems during its growth and production such as pests and diseases as well as post-harvest issues. In the light of all these, the following paper will conduct an in-depth research on the entire production process of date palms. All constituent processes and activities will be highlighted with regards to the key producers, market statistics to propagation, disease control to marketing and non-food uses of the date palm tree. Chapter 1 DATE PALM OVERVIEW The date palm is just one of the hundreds of known palm cultivars. Its history is based mainly in the Middle East and particularly Saudi Arabia. The plant has a long history, but very little is known regarding its origin. However, the most credible evidence of its origin states that it was discovered about 3,000 BC in Mesopotamia (now Iraq). Other sources state that it originated at the same time around West India. It is believed that from Mesopotamia, that is when it spread to large areas of the Middle East, North Africa, and the Arabian Peninsula. The cultivation of dates arrived in Egypt around the second millennium BCE (Tengberg, 2012). The Spanish are attributed to have been the parties who contributed to the spread of date cultivation beyond the Arabian Peninsula, taking it to North Africa, America, and South Asia. The most incredible information about dates is that they enabled the support of large populations in the desert climate since it acted as both food and an economic element. The earliest records of date palms are found on Babylonian and Syrian tablets as well as Palestinian, Libyan, Syrian and Egyptian writings (Chao & Krueger, 2007). Definition of terms i. Palms Palms or palm trees are evergreen monocotyledonous flowering plants under the botanical family Arecaceae. ii. Dates Dates are fruits of the date palm. They are also known as pits. iii. Phoenix dactylifera This is the scientific name for the date palm. Phoenix is its genus name , and dactylifera is its species name. iv. Red Palm Weevil The red palm weevil scientifically known as Rhynchophorous ferrugineus is a type of beetle that is a common pest in most types of palms (oil palm, date palm, and coconut palm). v. Partial Fruit Set Failure Phenomenon This is a situation whereby a palm tree is not able to fully achieve its expected or maximum fruit production due to several factors such as incorrect pollination. vi. Cultivar A cultivar is a variety or clone of a plant that is valuable enough to be allocated its own name. It is produced through selective breeding and according to its characteristics is recommended for specific geographical locations. Propagation Propagation is a method of reproducing or increasing the number of organisms (plants) from the parent organism. vii. Aqueous extract An aqueous extract is the residue left behind after a liquid solution of a plant or animal part is evaporated. Method of research This research applied both qualitative and quantitative approaches in coming up with the findings regarding the production of dates. The method applied was reporting. In this method, data from previous records, experiments, studies and observations in the past have been analyzed, and findings drawn from them. The data is derived from online databases that provide credible information on the cultivation of dates. The evaluated studies include the different types of date cultivars and where they are grown, the processes involved in date palm propagation, and the uses of the date palm. In addition, the challenges encountered in date production plus how they have been addressed will be discussed. From the findings, it will be possible to compile a discussion of the entire production process of dates that is the primary objective of this research. Findings Date palms grow best in very hot and dry climate. As such, the largest producers of dates are meant to be arid nations. In 1962, the net production of dates was about 2 million tones with the figure increasing to 7 million as at 2005. In 2005, the leading producers of dates were Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Pakistan, UAE, Tunisia, Iran, Sudan, Algeria and Oman. The United States produced average 16,500 tones of the overall dates produced. The United States ranks as a top exporter of dates since it produces high quality fruits in constant supply. The highest importers of dates in the same period were the UAE, India, Morocco, Yemen, and Pakistan. The area of this research that is mainly the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has an estimated count of 25 million date palm trees, producing above 1 million tons of dates every year. In estimation, Saudi Arabia contributes 15% to the overall world production of dates (Al-Abbad, Al-Jamal, Al-Shreed & Belaifa, 2011). According to FAOSTAT (2009), Egypt is the highest producer of dates. The table below summarizes the world’s top ten producers of date palms. State Production in 1,000 Metric Tones Egypt 1,470 Iran 1,066 Saudi Arabia 1,050 Algeria 789 Iraq 650 Pakistan 600 Oman 270 UAE 250 Tunisia 190 Libya 170 Table 1: Top 10 world producers of date palms Uses of dates and Date Palms Date fruits Initially, dates were grown for food and economic purposes in the Middle East because they produce a lot of fruit and are best suited for the desert climate of the region. The nutritious purpose of dates still dominates today. When ripe, date fruits can be eaten soft or dry. They can also be dried and pitted to act as a snack food. These are mainly the traditional uses of dates as food. Today, they can be stuffed or pitted with fillings such as cream cheese, tahini, lemon or orange peel, and walnuts. When partially dried, dates can be glazed with glucose syrup to act as a snack. In the Middle East, it is chopped and applied in multiple dishes such as the Ka’ak (Arabian cookies). In the United States and especially during the holidays, date nut bread is made from them. Additionally, dates can be used to make date syrup, spread, date sugar, alcohol, Arabian champagne, and vinegar. However, the most popular and world renowned use of dates is during the Muslim Ramadan. It is shared as a means of brotherhood and also eaten as the first meal when they break their fasting (Manickavasagan, Essa, & Sukumar, 2012). Dates of the Phoenix dactylifera are highly nutritious fruits going by the multiple nutrients they contain. The fruit contains 44-88% carbohydrates, 0.2-0.5% fat, 2.3-5.6% proteins, 6.4-11.5% dietary fiber, and about 15 minerals and salts. They also contain about six vital vitamins such as Vitamins A, C and 2 Bs (thiamine and riboflavin) as well as niacin. In addition, dates are unique to most fruits in that unlike bananas, apples, and oranges, they contain 23 types of amino acids (Al-Shahib & Marshall, 2003). According to Vayalil (2012), recent studies have proven that the date fruit has been emerging as an important medicinal plant due to the high number of nutrients it contains. This is because of the many health benefits that it offers those who consume dates. Some of the health benefits indicated in these studies include strengthening uterine walls in women during pregnancy, reducing post-delivery bleeding, promoting milk flow during breastfeeding, and reducing complications during labor. The pits of dates contain gonadotropic, anti-flammatory, antioxidant, nephroprotective, antiviral, and gastroprotective properties (Shi, et.al, 2013). Seeds The seeds of date fruits are not swallowed, and neither are they thrown away. They can be ground and used as an additive to coffee just like coffee beans. They can also be ground as fed to animals. Silversmiths collect the seeds and after burning them use their charcoal to make ornaments (necklaces). In the Middle East, the seed is used in making cosmetics and soaps. In addition, the seed that contains between 0.5 to 5.4% of lauric acid can be chemically processed to produce oxalic acid. Finally, in the laboratory, it has been proven that mice fed with an aqueous extract from date pits experience reduction on DNA damage inflicted during experiments (Watson, Patel, & Preedy, 2011). Leaves The leaves of most date palms when dry are used to weave mats, fans, baskets and screens. Christians use the green leaves on the Palm Sunday. In North Africa, the dried leaves are used to thatch huts. When processed, the leaves can be made into insulating board. In some parts of the Middle East, the young leaves are cooked as a vegetable. The petiole is used to get pulp used to make walking sticks, as fuel, or as floats for fishing (Manickavasagan, Essa, & Sukumar, 2012). Sap Sap from the palm tree is used differently. For instance, the Phoenix sylvestris has sap used as wine in North India. In Pakistan, the same sap is tapped and applied in the production of palm syrup or used in jiggery. In North Africa, the sap is tapped and fermented to make alcoholic beverages, molasses, or used in making palm sugar. Stem Once cut, the stem of date palms can be used as wood. It is used as rafters or posts for huts. In comparison to the coconut trunk, it is lighter. Additionally, the trunk can be used in making dhows and bridges. The rest of the unused wood is dried and used as fuel. Others Other uses of the plant include fruit clusters that are used as brooms, and female flower buds that are ground and mixed with dried fish to make an ingredient of making bread in Saudi Arabia. As a whole, the tree can be used as an ornament in landscaping. This happens mostly in the west, or with varieties of palm not meant for fruit. Ceremoniously, the date palm has significance to Judaists, Christians, and Muslims (Manickavasagan, Essa, & Sukumar, 2012). Cultivars and Genetics of Date Palms Scientifically, the date palm is categorized under Kingdom Plantae, Teacheobionta Subkingdom, Magnoliophyta Division, Liliopssida Class, Arecidae Subclass. It falls under the Arecales Order, Arecaceae Family, Phoenix L. Genus, and finally Phoenix dactylifera Species (IT IS, 2009). In Saudi Arabia alone, there are over 450 cultivars of date palms. The date palm is classified under monocotyledons just like grass, orchids, bamboo and daffodils. Date Palm cultivars are produced in cultivation through selective breeding so as to fit the region or climate. The table below summarizes the key cultivars and where they can be found: Cultivar Place it is found Aabel Libya Barakwi Sudan Amer Hajj Iraq Dabbas UAE Empress California, USA Fard Oman Iteema Algeria Kenta Tunisia Dayri Iraq Datca Turkey Sag’ai Saudi Arabia Table 2: Cultivars of date palms In as much as hundreds of date palms exist, only the Phoenix dactylifera species provides dates that are large enough to be eaten. Other popular types of date palms include the Medjool date palm, Deglet Noor date palm, Bardhi date palm, and Halawi date palm. The difference between the dates produced ranges from flavor to size, moisture content, and sweetness. Propagation of date palms There are three main methods of propagating date palms. First is seed propagation (sexual propagation) that is discouraged since in depending on this method, one would have a half of their plantation as female and the rest as male. Again, this method leads to production of late maturing fruits of inferior quality. All in all, it is not the best method for commercial cultivation of date palms. The second method is offshoot propagation (vegetative or asexual propagation) in that offshoots are gotten from a parent plant. The Hayani, Berim, and Zahidi varieties are the highest producers of offshoots. Offshoots are curved while seedlings are straight. This method is preferred because one, the offshoot is usually a replica of the parent plant (quality and sex), and two, plants from offshoots produce fruits 2 or 3 years before those grown from seedlings (Gurevich, Lavi, & Cohen, 2005). The third method of propagation is tissue culture propagation (Vitro propagation). In this method, the plants are genetically cultured and their vegetative form is changed for the best results. This method is the best, offering advantages such as large scale multiplication, economically reliable, genetically uniform plants, no seasonal effects, resistance to pests and diseases, and finally propagation of male plants with superior pollen and selection of healthy female cultivars (Al-Khalifah, Askari, & Shanavaskhan, 2013). Depending on the method of propagation, the time required before a young date palm is ready for transplant will differ. The pits for transplanting are usually 0.75m x 0.75m x 0.75m. The spacing from tree to tree is usually double the length of the leaves thus 7m to 9m. Apart from the space required, machinery and other activities utilize this space when needed. Adequate watering, addition of manures and adequate sunshine are required for vigorous growth. With the correct nurture, date palms (depending on the variety) will begin bearing fruit from 4 to 8 years after transplanting. Date palms are dioecious meaning they have separate male and female plants. As such, pollination occurs by help of the wind mostly then other factors such as birds and insects. 1 male is planted per 10-14 female plants to enable pollination. Artificial pollination is used today where male spikes are inserted into newly-opened female inflorescences (Zaid & Arias, 2002). In other cases, pollination is done by spraying a mixture of bleached wheat powder, dry pollen, and talcum powder into the female inflorescence (Paull, & Odilo, 2011). After fertilization, the carpel will require about 200 days to change into fruit and be fully ripened, ready for harvesting. A proper female plant produces bunches each with an average 200 spikelets, that develop into several flowers that turn into fruits. High-quality fruit can be achieved by reducing the number of bunches, reducing the number of strands from a bunch, and finally cutting the length of the strands down. A date palm tree will live with its leaves for at least 7 years before they die and bend downwards. Pruning of such leaves is done before flowering or after harvesting to foster growth of newer leaves. Because of the unfavorable and harsh growing conditions of date palms, they are prone to mineral, moisture, and orgnaic deficiencies. Due to this factors, the growing of date palms relies heavily on irrigation and high levels of fertilizer applications. As Al-Karaki (2013) reveals, a new technology of using mycorrhizal fungi is used an alternative. The fungi is applied to date palm farms where they aid in resisting diseases, balancing salinity, water uptake, improved plant growth, and cushioning against stresses caused by water shortage and extreme heat. Other innovations on the cultivation of date palms exist such as the use of nano-hydrophobic sand technology. This type of sand, made using nanotechnology innovation contains nano particles derived from the compound trimethylhydroxysilane. The addition of the nano particles improves the properties of sand soil (low water-holding ability, high infiltration rate, and low organic matter). In a study conducted by Salem, et.al, (2013), application of hydrophobic sand improves the uptake of the heavy metals and nutrients ensuing in higher length for shoot seedlings, fresh higher root, and dry weights for seedlings. Chapter 2 PESTS AND DISEASES OF DATE PALMS Disease is one of the biggest risks in the cultivation of date palms. Depending on the region, culture of cultivation, location, weather and the cultivar that is planted, a farmer may experience different diseases. One of the most dangerous diseases affecting date palms in Morocco, Algeria, and Tunisia is the Bayoud disease. In a century, 12 million date palms have succumbed to it. The Bayoud disease is caused by a fungus called Fusarium oxysporum forma specialis albedinis and affects both mature and offshoots (young date palms). Its symptoms include a withering leaf at the middle of the crown, whitening of the pinnae, and brown staining of some or all the leaves. Internally, infected roots will turn reddish and when palm fronds are cut; their interior will show highly colored veins. While these symptoms may indicate Bayoud infection, proper laboratory analysis offers the actual results. The disease is controlled in several ways. First, the soil can be treated with methyl bromide or chloropicrin after infected plants have been uprooted and incinerated immediately. The area is then quarantined for some time. The second method is by stopping irrigation between the hot months of May and October to stop conditions that foster the growth of the fungus. The third and highly recommended method is through genetic control in that cultivars that are resistant to Bayoud and other diseases are being developed (Zhang, et. al, 2011). Other diseases such as the brown leaf spot caused by the fungus Mycosphaerella tassiana manifests itself as dark lesions on the leaves. It is common in North Africa and the Middle East. It is controlled by pruning and incinerating the affected leaves. The Omphalia root rot is caused by two fungi: O.tralucida or O. pigmentata. It destroys the roots of date palms resulting in non-productivity if it reaches its final stage. The disease is controlled by spraying the trees with Dexon or Brestan every eight months. This disease is common in the USA. The other popular disease is the Khamedj disease. It is caused by the fungus Mauiniella scattae Cav and affects both young and old trees. It destroys inflorescences of ignored date palms and results in rot, thus falling off of about 30 to 40 kilograms of fruit per plant. It is controlled using the combination of sulphate-lime and copper or 4% thirame and 3% dichlone spray. Other diseases include Graphiola leaf spot, Fruit rot, and Belaat disease. Most of them are controlled using chemicals and genetic resistance (Jain & Al-Khayri, 2011). Apart from birds and insects that can be easily controlled, the Red palm weevil is the most notorious pest of date palms. The weevil known as Rhynchophorus ferrugineus or Sago palm wheel or Asian palm weevil is large; with an estimated size of between two and five centimeters. The weevils eat into the trunks of date palm trees and can eat up to a meter long inside. This causes them to either dry up or weaken and fall. The weevil affects almost all the types of palm trees. It is common in Europe, USA, Africa, and Asia. To control the red palm Weevil, a systematic application of insecticide is done. The insecticide is applied into the infested parts of the trunk using a funnel. Alternatively, pitfall traps or buckets can be used to lure the weevil then they are killed by insecticides. More ways of controlling the weevils are being devised such as drenching the bases of date palms with fungi such as Beauveria bassiana or Metarhizium anisopliae (Alford, 2012). Chapter 3 PROBLEMS THAT LIMIT DATE PALM CULTIVARS PRODUCTIVITY One of the challenges facing productivity of date palm cultivars is termed as the partial fruit set failure phenomenon. This occurrence happens when a particular cultivar does not produce the required or expected amount of fruit. This may happen due to many factors. The key factors suspected to cause this are pollinator type and method as well as geographical location where a cultivar has been planted. The issue of partial fruit set failure has never been quite understood. However in a study conducted by Awad and Al-Qurashi (2011) to provide a better insight into the causes of partial fruit set failure, it was revealed that pollinator type, method, and wrong matching between location and cultivar led to a lower production of dates. This limitation to date production is being addressed by applying the correct methods and agents of pollination and considering all the requirements of individual date cultivars before establishing them in new areas. The other challenge facing the production of dates is prolonged drought in the Middle East (and most production areas) due to lack of rains. This in turn leads to drying up of oases and wells, and worse still, increase in the salinity of the available water sources. The challenge lies in that as farmers seek to expand the areas under date cultivation, this important resource is diminishing by the day and may affect the production of the crop. According to El-Juhany (2010), human activity is the other dominant factor affecting date production. In human activity, factors such as ignoring research, poor handling and poor production, encroachment of date palm plantations and lack of innovation in the sector are included. Collectively, these factors lead to production of less dates, or production of low quality dates. In addition, farmers might be forced to give up on the practice if its future is not promising. These human factors add up to marketing constraints. Due to the low production and poor quality of dates, marketing the product has become a challenge particularly for the Middle East and North African producers. This is because only the USA produces high quality dates. With the fact in mind that the demand is low, the USA can be feeding the few promising markets leaving the major producers with nowhere to sell their products. Collectively, all these factors are discouraging the cultivation of dates. SWOT Analysis of date palm production Strengths Weaknesses Nutritious value of dates is being increasingly recognized in the world. Cultivars are being modified so they can adapt to more areas of production. Innovation in farm practices and equipment and research is on the increase. Ties between the East and West are resuming, thus better market. Dates are only produced in the Middle East, North Africa, and parts of Asia and America thus potential insatiable market. Poor infrastructure and facilities. Poor marketing strategies. Persistence of fruit set failure phenomenon. Low prices due to lack of markets. High costs of production. Opportunities Threats International cooperation will create a new market for dates. Innovations will mean cheaper production costs and better quality. Lifestyle changes sensitization will see more people demand for grapes. Better prices are due as demand grows. Change in climatic conditions may cripple the sector. Political factors may negatively affect the international markets and production. Innovations may prove more expensive thus increase production costs. Conclusion The objective of the above research is to explore the date palm that is a popular crop grown in the Middle East and a few other parts of the world. The studies evaluated by the research show that the date palm is best suited for desert climate where irrigation or minimal rainfall is experienced. It is also highlighted that the date palm can be propaged either sexually, using offshoots, or using tissue culture methods. Every region or geographical location has a variety or cultivar of the date palm that is engineered or chosen depending on the conditions available. This is done to ensure suitability thus maximum output by the plant. Egypt is shown as the world leading producer of dates while the United States is famous for its production of the best quality of dates. Date production is limited by several factors. The leading factor is the Bayoud disease that not only lowers production but also destroys entire plantations of date palms. It is however controlled using chemicals. Apart from diseases, pests also limit the production of dates. The Red palm weevil is the most common pest of palms that bores into the trunks of palms and weakening them. Finally, human factors such as laxity in research and marketing on the plant also give way to the limitations. Lack of proper marketing strategies is the key human factor that discourages the production of dates and date palms. In conclusion, the SWOT analysis show that if these factors can be resolved, date palm production would be much effective and productive than it is today. References Alford, D. (2012). Pests of Ornamental Trees, Shrubs and Flowers. S.l.: Academic Press. Al-Abbad, A., Al-Jamal, M., Al-Elaiw, Z., Al-Shreed, F., & Belaifa, H. (2011). A study on the economic feasibility of date palm cultivation in the Al-Hassa oasis of Saudi Arabia. J. Dev. & Agri. Eco, 3(39), 463-468. Al-Karaki, G. N. (2013). Application of mycorrhizae in sustainable date palm cultivation. Emirates Journal of Food and Agriculture, 25(11), 854-862. doi: 10.9755/ejfa.v25i11.16499. 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