dates crop khairpur

Compilation & Survey

Momin Bullo

District Administration, Khairpur, Sindh

of Khair ur

Date Crop

All rights reserved

Compilation & Survey by

Momin Bullo

Photography & Layout Design by

Naeem Deswali

Technical Assistance

Pakistan Heritage Preservation& Promotion Society [PHPPS]

Prepared and published by

The Reporter, HyderabadMehran Arcade, Adjacent Bank Al-Habib, Main Road, Qasimabad, Hyderabad.Ph: 0300-3042363Fax: 022-4110953Email: [email protected]

In collaboration with

District Administration, Khairpur, Sindh

July 2011

Date Crop of Khairpur

Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali JinnahFounder of Islamic Republic of Pakistan

Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali BhuttoFounding Chairman

Pakistan Peoples Party

07Date Cropof Khairpur

06Date Crop

of Khairpur

Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir BhuttoFormer Prime MinisterIslamic Republic of Pakistan

Mr. Asif Ali Khan ZardariPresident

Islamic Republic of Pakistan


08Date Crop

of Khairpur

Mr. Bilawal Bhutto ZardariChairmanPakistan Peoples Party

Yousuf Raza GilaniPrime Minister

Islamic Republic of Pakistan


10Date Crop

of Khairpur

Syed Qaim Ali ShahChief MinisterGovernment of Sindh

Dr. Syeda Nafisa ShahMNA

& Chairperson, NCHD


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of Khairpur

Muhammad Abbas BalochDeputy CommissionerKhairpur

14Date Crop

of Khairpur

ContentsŸ CM's Message 16Ÿ Preface 17Ÿ Expert Opinion 18Ÿ Compiler's Note 19Ÿ Khairpur in historical perspective 20Ÿ The Sacred Tree 25Ÿ Date Croping 35Ÿ Fruit Characterization of Pakistani Dates 39Ÿ Interviews with Experts & Leading Date Growers of Khairpur 49Ÿ Date Palm Research Institute [DPRI] 73Ÿ Protection of Date Palm from Monsoonic Rains 85Ÿ Micropropagation Of Date Palm by Inflorescence Explants 95Ÿ Dehydrating Juicy Dates 97Ÿ Cooking & Dinning with Dates 105Ÿ Holy Plants 115Ÿ Dating the Date: Ancient to Modern Times 116Ÿ Date Palm By Products 117Ÿ Annexures 129

It gives me great pleasure to know that the District Administration is bringing out a colorful catalogue on the Date

Crop of the Khairpur reegion. Its an endeavour to support the present government's policies and to promote the production & export of Dates.

Khairpur is famous for its bountiful harvest of export quality dates (almost 85% of the province's dates are produced in Khairpur). However, the soil is suitable for many cash crops including cotton and wheat. Date palms grow like weed in Khairpur. Date seeds discarded by humans and animals would germinate in due course of time in any unpaved ground. Varieties are numerous and cross-pollination process ensures emergence of new once. The dry, hot climate makes the fruit very sweet, supple and juicy.

There are number of varieties of dates produced in Pakistan. With concentration on processing and packaging facilities these highly valuable varieties will fetch their real worth in the export market.

Dates are well known for its nutritional and high vitamin contents of A, B and C and also has high mineral contents. Pakistan mainly exports fresh dates to many countries of the world such as Bangladesh, Canada, Denmark, Germany, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, the US and UK. While dried dates are exported to Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Canada, Denmark, Germany, India and Japan.

Pakistan is among the top four or five date producers of the world. Dates have vast potential of export, but efforts are required to apply post-harvest management and processing techniques to qualifying the international standards. A number of countries have formulated and applied date standards at the national level. Therefore, Pakistan has to follow such type of systems and standards.

I congratulate the District Administration, Khairpur, headed by Mr. Muhammad Abbas Baloch for putting up this wonderful effort to showcase the immense potential of our Dates productivity and to enlighten the local and international stakeholders regarding the numerous opportunities and huge returns on investments that Pakistan offers to them. I assure highest support to the District Administration Khairpur and warmly appreciate its efforts to highlight the basic issues in black and white.

Last but not the least, I would also like to appreciate the sincere efforts of Mr. Momin Bullo, who has produced yet another colorful book on Khairpur.

Syed Qaim Ali ShahChief Minister

Government of Sindh

Message


16Date Crop

of Khairpur

Preface

First of all, I would like to thank Almighty Allah, who blessed us with the strength to contribute for the

economic development of Pakistan through bringing out colorful catalogue on the Date Crop of our district.

The book in hand will provide an opportunity to explore the modern trends and research on date palm and immense business and investment opportunities in Pakistan to the local & international investors as well as the research scholars.

Khairpur contributes highly in exports both fresh & dry dates to the countries like Canada, Germany, India, UK, USA etc. I am confident that this book would be a great source to motivate the local entrepreneurs to interact with Overseas Exhibition to share latest global technological advancement in the production of this sacred fruit.

I am also confident to claim that this book would prove a basic source of information highlighting the beauty of the Date Orchards & its economic value. Lastly not least I am thankful to Mr. Momin Bullo and his team who had covered every aspect of the assigned work.

Muhammad Abbas BalochDeputy Commissioner,

District Administration, Khairpur

Expert Opinion

I would like to appreciate the efforts and congratulate District Administration, Khairpur by Mr. Muhammad Abbas Baloch, the Deputy Commissioner, for taking up the publication of a

colorful book on the Date Crop of Khairpur. The book will provide knowledge to the readers on various aspects of Dates and will prove to be the milestone in the field.

I have gone through the draft script in general and the research work in particular and found it most appropriate and acceptable to be the part of this book. This research work done by different scientists will give real value to the book.

Nature has blessed this area with such a climate which suits Date Palm crop. Khairpur has enormously large number of Date Palm varieties. Many varieties have potential to be exported as fresh, dry or Chhuhara. The Exhibition and International Dates Seminar will explore the potential of such varieties and will encourage the people to grow more Date Palm, to produce more yield & better quality and to export more Dates. In return, they will earn better living and improve quality of life and elevate poverty.

This is a knowledge based Century. The countries having knowledge will lead the world. The Date Palm Scientists will share their knowledge, experiences and research findings regarding the improvement in Dates Industry. The applications of Technologies like Information and Bio have boosted the economies of many countries. The world elite varieties can be introduced here through the use of Biotechnology and Tissue Culture. The use of advanced technologies can also tremendously reduce Post Harvest and Processing losses.

I wish all the success to the efforts of Mr. Bullo & his team for carying out such a beautiful work on this region.

Dr Ghulam Sarwar MarkhandDirector

Date Palm Research Institute (DPRI)Shah Abdul Latif University, Khairpur

I am at loss of words to express my gratitude to Mr. Muhammad Abbas Baloch, the able Deputy Commissioner of

Khirpur and Dr. Syeda Nafisa Shah, MNA, alike, for assigning me the task of preparing & producing the colorful catalogue on the colorful Date-producing land of Khairpur.

Ofcourse, this was second consecutive assignment commissioned to me by the District Administration, which have been Alhamdulillah accomplished successfully and according the desired goals of the administration.

Dr. Syeda Nafisa Shah, conceived the idea of preparing a colorful catalogue on the Date Crop of Khairpur & held series of meetings in this regard with the compiler and facilitated in all respects to accomplish this task.

Momin Bullo

Compiler’s Note


18Date Crop

of Khairpur

Khairpur, once a prosperous state governed by the Talpur amirs, was founded in 1775. Situated in the north of the province, Khairpur lost its status of a princely state in 1955 and was reduced to a status of mere a district. Presently it constitutes 8 talukas viz: Khairpur, Faiz Ganj,

Mirwah, Gambat, Nara, Kingri, Sobho Dero and Kot Diji and 76 union councils. its spreads over 15910 square kilometers. And according to 1998’s Census report its population is 1546587 with 24% urban and 76% rural. Its 97% populace is Muslim out of which 95% speak Sindhi while the rest are Urdu and Punjabi speaking.

Khairpur's economy is primarily agrarian, with agriculture accounting for about 80 percent of the population's occupation. Agricultural land is generally distributed inequitably, with the bulk of land owned by a few rich families, and the overwhelming majority either land less haris (laborers) or petty khatedars (tenants). Agriculture is dependent on the river Indus and a network of canals. A good part of the district is Sailaba (flood-fed) as well as rain fed. The main cash crops in Khairpur include wheat and grams in Rabi season, and cotton, oil seeds and sugar cane in Kharif season. Dates, banana, mangoes, guavas, falsa, orange, and lemon are the most grown fruits in the district, while onion, potatoes, lady fingers, tindas and tori (zuchini), and peas are the most commonly grown vegetables. Khairpur is especially famous for

Khairpur in historical perspective

producing export quality dates (almost 85% of the province's dates are produced in Khairpur). The district has extreme climatic conditions, with maximum temperatures of 42° Centigrade in summers, and a minimum of 7° in winters.

Industry in the district is mostly agriculture-related: sugar mills, date factories, cotton and ginning mills, handlooms, and small machinery. Khairpur is famous for its cottage and craft industry, and several hand-looms produce various types of unique cloth, known as Khes and sussi.

Along with other parts of Sindh, Khairpur district is fast losing its natural resources base, both due to extreme use putting pressure on the ecosystem, and due to massive and profitable poaching and logging. The district is left with less than a third of forest cover from 50 years ago. The formerly prosperous and wildlife-rich State of Khairpur was annexed to Pakistan in 1955, and has since then lost much of its indigenous fauna. The ecosystem changes have created new public health risks as well as a gradual loss of traditional health resources, such as medicinal plants and herbs.

Food of the people generally is simple. The agrarian classes eat grain which is principally produces in the part of the district to which they belong. Thus wheat and rice are the staple food of the people of Khairpur District.

The wandering population subsists very largely on milk of their camels and people of Kacha track on that of their buffaloes, cows, goats & sheep. Muslim eats eggs, fried or boiled. The diet of upper classes is of course more variety including pulses, fruit, rice, mutton, beef, chicken & sweetmeats as well as a greater variety of vegetables. There are ordinarily to substantial meals in the day with one breakfast in the morning. A drink of warm milk some time after evening meal is considered beneficial for health. Use of tea is common. Biris & cigarettes or also smoked by some.

Food

Front view of famousTakar Bungalowat Kot Diji.


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of Khairpur

Agriculture & Related Sectors

NARA Desert

About 80% of the people belong to the agriculture. Their condition on the whole is not very encouraging. Only a few persons own big holdings. The rest are either landless Harees or petty Khatedars who live from hand to mouth.

The most important crops of Kharif are cotton, oilseed & sugarcane, whereas main crops during Rabi are wheat & gram. Rice, maize, pulses, jawar, chilies, barley, bajra, tobacco etc, are also grown in the district.

Sindh is the south eastern Province of Pakistan, bounded on the east by the Indian border of Rajasthan, in the south by the Ran of Kutch, the Arabian Sea, in the west by the arid rocky mountains of Baluchistan and in the North by irrigated plains of Punjab.

About 88,000 sq. km. area of Sindh has been regarded as Arid Zone that is nearly 60% of total geographical area of Sindh province. The Arid Zone of Sindh Province has two regions as follows:

1. Kohistan (the western side of the Indus Valley),

2. Thar (the eastern area of Sindh Province).

Thar Desert further subdivided into the Nara region (Nara Thar) in the North and Thar region (Parkar Thar) in the South. In fact a perennial canal, named as NARA, emerges from Sukkur Barrage passes through the desert.

The "Nara Desert" lies between 260 to 280 north and 680 to 700 east. The altitude is between 50 and 115 meters above mean sea level (msl). Eastern side boundary of NARA desert marked by Rajasthan, India (Jaisalmer & Jodhpur).

Topography and Climate: It is distinctly marked with sandy hills, steep slopes

and vast low laying areas locally known as “Patt”. The accumulation of sand in huge mass in the form of a hill is known as sand dune/ridges. Dune has crest; the topmost portion, swale (flank); the middle portion and foot; the base of the dune. The area between two successive dunes is called Interdunal valley.

Joint family system prevails in the Nara, as in other parts of rural Sindh. All three generations, parents, grandparents and children live under one roof. The main duties of the men in the family are ploughing, animal-grazing, mat weaving, and house-construction, or other cash earning activities, whereas the women's responsibilities include bringing water

from wells or ponds, cooking, washing, maintaining the house, thread-making, embroidering and knitting.

The wedding is usually arranged with mostly close relatives. Most marriages are made at younger ages. Ceremonies are generally simple and less costly, as compared to other parts of Sindh. The followers of Pir Sahib Pagara do not engage in drum beating, music and other ceremonies.

Cultural Heritage


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Popular religious festivals in the Nara taluka are the monthly congregations at the tombs of Syed Kabeer Shah and Syed Arab Shah near Pharyaro (Monday Moon Night), Pir Moazam Shah near Choondko (Annual Festival), and Qalmee Quran near the Peeranoo pattan crossing and Tajjal Sharif. An event of very high religious significance for the majority of population is the biannual visit of Pir Sahib Pagara in which he offers ziarat (presence among the followers at various points/ villages), jhalo (opportunity to selected followers to pray at their villages and/ or accept light refreshment), and overnight stay and dinner with the main Khalifas.

The vegetation in this region is sparse consisting mainly of stunted, thorny or prickly shrubs and perennial herbs capable of drought resistance. Trees are few and scattered. Trees, shrubs even roots of the plants have been indiscriminately cut for fuel, feed, fencing and construction of huts called "Chuanra". Prosopis cineraria, a tree has been under constant threat of chopping by people from the near townships of desert since ages. It has been used for the purpose of coal formation. This practice has resulted in gradual disappearance of this tree from this area.

Four Multinational Oil & Gas exploration & Production companies are operating in the NARA desert, includes Patronas Carigali Pakistan (Malaysian), OMV Pakistan (Austrian), LASMO Oil Pakistan (British) & E.N.I. Pakistan (Italian).

Vegetation

Gas Exploratory Activities

24Date Crop

of Khairpur

Over the times immemorable the role of horticulture has significantly improved and gained an importance,

emerging as a major economic activity to enhance both national and family income alike. If international standards regarding food quality and safety requirements are properly followed and fulfilled, fruit and vegetables can earn precious foreign exchange for the country.

Despite being an agrarian economy, Pakistan like many other developing countries has so far failed to fully exploit its horticultural resources. All that happen due to poorly developed and ill managed infrastructure, huge post-harvest losses, inadequate knowledge of farming among growers and lack of compliance to international quality standards. One of the most neglected areas of horticulture in the country is the cultivation of dates on a commercial scale.

It may come as a surprise that Pakistan is not only among the top five date exporting countries, but is also listed in the major date importing countries. The dates fetch low prices in the international market where non-date producing countries, like France, import dates at cheap rates from the Third World countries and then re-export the dates after grading and processing them for five times the value of the imports.

The Sacred Tree


Known as the King of the Oasis and the tree of life, the Date Palm, botanically classified as Phoenix Dactylifera, is known to be one of the world's oldest fruit trees. Religious references to the date palm can be found in the Quran and Bible and ceremonies in Judaism, Christianity and Islam. The reason for this is mainly the influence of Prophet Ibrahim whose love for dates and date palm has left a lasting influence on these religions. There are over 20 references to date and date palms in the Holy Quran. The Holy Prophet (Peace be Upon Him) also highlighted the importance of dates and date palms on many occasions.

The exact origin of the first date palm is not known. However, there is general agreement that the history of date palm is as old as the history of man himself. According to an Arabic legend, “After God had finished moulding man from earth; He took the remaining material and shaped it into a date

palm which he placed in the Garden of Paradise (Eden)”. The Garden of Eden is believed to be situated at the juncture of Tigris and Euphrates

rivers of Iraq where mankind is said to have begun.

According to some websites, wild date palm seeds as old as 50,000 years were discovered during an archeological expedition in the Shanidar cave of Northern Iraq and the earliest date palm trunk, about 17,000 years old was recovered from the Kharga Oasis, Eygpt's western desert. There is also evidence of dates in the remains of Mohenjodaro.

Mr. M.H. Panhwar, a famous horticulturist and researcher of Sindh was of the opinion that, “The date palm established itself in the desert areas from Morocco to Sindh during the Holocene period, when dry climatic conditions prevailed in the entire region. It was found in Mehrgarh around 5,000 to 5,500 BC. It became naturalised in Pakistan, northern Africa and southern Spain in early times and acquired religious significance both in

South Asia and the Semite races of Arabian Peninsula. The Spanish introduced it to the dry areas of the America in the 16th

century.”

Dates were the mainstay of food source for travelers using the extensive trading caravan route from

the Indus Valley of Pakistan across the Arabian and Saharan deserts to the

western coast of Africa. The high sugar content of the fruit

delays decomposition prolonging its

storage. As travelers ate

the fruit,

Kuprro variety Karbalian variety

seedlings were tossed away, thus creating a scattering of date palms among the many oases lining the caravan routes. The desert people ate dates with goat or camel milk for sustenance.

Date palm hieroglyphs were used to designate a year, and the frond a month, in carvings found on statues and temples. Palm logs were used to roof the royal tombs, and dates were found buried with King Tutankhamen (the 12th Pharaoh of the 18th dynasty of Egypt).

It is said that the Moorish tribes from Arabia brought date palms across North Africa to Spain. From Spain, the Padres brought date seeds to the New World, planting them in mission gardens throughout Brazil, the Carribean and along the Pacific coast in 1729.

Today if one looks at the distribution of dates regionally, one finds that Asia is in the first position with 60 million date palms (Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, the UAE, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Oman, Pakistan etc.), while Africa is second with 32.5 million date palms (Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Mali, Morocco, Mauritania, Niger, Tunisia etc.). Mexico and the USA have 60,000 palms followed by Europe (Spain and Australia).

Iraq used to be a major producer of dates but in recent years production and exports have been curtailed.

The global production of dates stands at 6 million metric tonnes. According to the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) statistics, the major date producers of the world are Egypt, Iran, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Pakistan (735,000 tonnes). The UAE has increased its exports and decreased imports over the years, while Iran has been replacing the millions of palms, destroyed in its eight years war with Iraq, by cloning trees since five years.

In our country, dates are grown on a commercial scale in Khairpur and Sukkur in Sindh; Kalat, Makran, Turbat, Kech and Punjgur in Balochistan; D.I. Khan and Bannu in the NWFP and some parts of southern Punjab including Multan, Jhang, Muzaffargarh and D.G. Khan. Some important varieties include Aseel, Karbalian, Begum Jangi, Mazawai, Halawi, Rabie, Zahidi, Fasli and Dhakki. Dates are grown over an area of 97,300 hectares with a production of 725,000 metric tonnes (FAO 2009). Sindh and Balochistan are the main date producing provinces followed by southern Punjab.

Sindh has not developed the infrastructure to keep dates fresh and sell them in the market. There is no concept of post-harvest treatment and rain poses a great threat to the crop. The period during which the crop gets ready for harvesting falls in the monsoon season. To save their crop, a large number of farmers in Sindh collect the hard unripe dates and boil them to convert them


26Date Crop

of Khairpur

Studies have shown that dates contain certain stimulants which strengthen the muscles of the uterus in the last months of pregnancy. This assists in the dilation of the uterus at the time of delivery. In Surah Maryam, Allah provided Hazrat Maryam (peace be upon her) with dates when she was experiencing discomfort and pain during the final stages of her pregnancy. Dates are also recommended for women in the postpartum period and during lactation due to its value as a nutritious, high-energy food.

into Chuhara. Of the rest, half of the dates are dehydrated manually under the sun. Around 90 percent of the export in the form of dry dates goes to India where it is used in religious rituals, while the rest are sold in the international market at low prices.

According to a figure, per acre yield of different varieties in the USA and Australia with maximum management is 6.5 to 8 tonnes. Most of the dates brought from a neighbouring country are infected with fungus, and are thus not good for human consumption.

The officials present wrong figures about date production and the area under date cultivation to the government only to earn a subsidy. Our dates fetch a low price as compared to other countries in the international market.

Sindh is suitable for raising all cultivars of date palm and therefore it should be introduced in the whole of Sindh. We need varieties which ripen early, are rain, humidity and disease resistant, have a large size and can withstand prolonged drought. This can be done by importing new varieties and through tissue culture techniques. Proper methods of removing offshoots, pruning, fruit thinning and bunch training are also important in date cultivation.

Hussaini varietyPathri variety

Many leading date growers in Khairpur, maintain that the number of date gardens have increased over the years despite a poor government response. They say that date exports can become lucrative for Pakistan in the coming years if the government sets up dehydration plants and cold storages.

There are some processing factories in Khairpur but the work, from collection of fruit to dehydration under the sun, is mostly done manually. Our main demands are dehydration & processing units and cold storages so that farmers can save their crop from the rains and sell it. The government also needs to introduce tissue culture methods and set up modern treatment plants and research institutes,” says Molvi Sadruddin Phulpoto.

The nutritional value of the relatively easy-to-store date fruit is high in sugar – comprising up to 70 per cent of the fruit. A single serving of date contains 31 grammes of carbohydrates, making it a powerhouse of energy. Eating dates and drinking water is an ideal way to replenish the body's need for potassium.

Dates are also good sources of iron, potassium, magnesium (important for use of voluntary muscles), sulphur, copper, calcium and phosphorus (important in building muscles and neuro-tissues). Dates contain 13.8 per cent water and about three per cent protiens as well as at least six vitamins including a small amount of vitamin C, and vitamins B1, thiamine, B2, riboflavin, nicotinic acid (niacin) and vitamin A.

Other minerals and salts that are found in various proportions include boron, cobalt, fluorine, phosphorous, sodium and zinc. Additionally, the seeds contain aluminum, cadmium, chloride and lead in various proportions.

Compared to other fruits and foods (apricot: 520 calories/kg; banana: 970

Nutritional value of Date


28Date Crop

of Khairpur

Aseel variety

A medical study cited in the British Medical Journal found that placing a sugary substance in the mouth of a baby reduces the sensation of pain. The Sunnah of putting chewed dates or honey into the mouths of newborn babies at the name-giving ceremony on the seventh day after the child's birth therefore carries benefit.

From its fruit-filled branches down to its trunk, the date palm tree fulfils many needs of life. No part of its anatomy is wasted. The trees are essential components of farming systems in arid and semi-arid regions, and can be produced equally well in small farm units or large scale commercial plantations. The great advantage of the tree is its resilience, its need for only limited water input, its long-term productivity and its multipurpose qualities.

The date palm also maintains equable microclimates within oasis ecosystems, thus enabling agricultural development to be sustained in many drought and saline-affected areas.

The trunk makes excellent house-building timber; the midribs of the larger leaves go into crates for shipping dates! The leaflets of the tree

calories/kg; orange: 480 calories/kg; cooked rice: 1,800 calories/kg; wheat bread: 2,295 calories/kg; meat (without fat): 2,245 calories/kg, dates give more than 3,000 calories per kilogramme.

Dates contain elemental fluorine that is useful in protecting teeth against decay. Selenium, another element believed to help prevent cancer and important in immune function, is also found in dates. The protein in dates contains 20 types of amino acids, some of which are not present in popular fruits such as oranges, apples and bananas.

Dates contain 0.5-3.9 per cent pectin, which may have important health benefits.

The fruit, because of its tannin content, is used medicinally as a detersive and astringent in intestinal troubles. In the form of an infusion, decoction or paste is administered as a treatment for sore throat, colds, bronchial catarrh. It is

taken to relieve fever, cystisis, gonorrhea, edema, liver and abdominal troubles. The seed powder is an ingredient in a paste given to relieve

ague.

A gum that exudes from the wounded trunk is used for treating diarrhoea and genito-urinary ailments in India. The roots are used for toothache. It has been reported that damaged dates that are not fit for human consumption, when added to animal feed, can increase the flow of milk in farm animals.

Dried dates are fed to camels, horses and dogs in the Sahara desert. In northern Nigeria, dates and peppers added to the native beer are believed to make it less intoxicating. In India, North Africa, Ghana and the Ivory Coast, date palms are tapped for the sweet sap which is converted into palm sugar (known as jaggery or gur), molasses or alcoholic beverages.

Date oil is suitable for use in soap and cosmetic products. They can also be processed chemically as a source of oxalic acid. Viscous

thick syrup made from the ripe fruits is used as a coating for leather bags and pipes to prevent leaking.

In most varieties, the sugar content of a date fruit is almost entirely of the inverted form (namely glucose and fructose), important for persons

who cannot tolerate sucrose. The invert sugar in dates is immediately absorbed by the body without being subjected to the digestion that ordinary sugar undergoes. Date consumers in Saharan areas are known to have the lowest rate of cancer diseases, a fact attributed to the magnesium found in dates. With only one milligramme of sodium per 100 grammes, dates are good food for those on a low sodium diet.

Protein also forms part of a date; it is variety dependent and also varies according to the stage of maturity. An average of 1.7 percent of protein from the wet weight of the flesh is roughly obtained. It is said that dates play an important role in the treatment of obesity because of it.

Studies have shown that dates contain certain stimulants which strengthen the muscles of the uterus in the last months of pregnancy. This assists in the dilation of the uterus at the time of delivery. In Surah Maryam, Allah provided Hazrat Maryam (peace be upon her) with dates when she was experiencing discomfort and pain during the final stages of her pregnancy. Dates are also recommended for women in the postpartum period and during lactation due to its value as a nutritious, high-energy food.

Mithrri variety


32Date Crop

of Khairpur

are woven into baskets and floor mats; the fibrous portions of the trunk are used for making ropes; the larger fronds are braided into

fences, erected to break the advance of sand dunes.

Even the stones of the date do not go unused. Crushed, they are fed to livestock as fodder. Dried and crushed, they are added to chicken feed. In

some areas they are mixed with flour to make bread.

The seeds are also burned to make charcoal for brick kiln, silversmiths, and can also be strung in necklaces. Date seeds are also ground and used as coffee beans and its oil is used as cure for arthritis boney pains.

Where craft traditions still thrive, such as in Sindh, palm tree is the most versatile of all the indigenous plants, and virtually every part of the tree is utilised to make functional items ranging from rope and baskets to hard fans, fishing boats, and traditional dwellings.

Date palm wood is used for posts and rafters for huts; it is lighter than coconut and not very durable. It is also used for construction such as bridges and aqueducts, and parts of dhows. The leftover wood is burnt for fuel.

Date leaves, especially the young ones, can be cooked and eaten as a vegetable. The flowers of the date palm are also edible. The flower buds are used in salad or pounded with dried fish to make a condiment for bread.

Saudi variety

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Date Palm in religious perspective

Climate favourite to Date Palm growth

Field

Date Palm enjoys great respect in almost all the prominent religions of the world. All the holy books reveled to different Prophets of God contain the information about the importance of this tree. Top of all,

in Holy Quran, the Date tree has been discussed for 22 times.

According to a credible source that at the time of birth of Hazrat Essa (PBUH), the newly born baby was made to consume a date in liquid form. Date has been the favourite fruit of last Prophet Hazrat Muhammad (PBUH) too. He used to compulsorily consume date during the whole month of Ramzan and would open the fast with a date.

Date Palm can be grown in a dried climate with more heat and less moisture. Date Palm tree is capable of bravely facing the threats of salinity and water

ologging. According to a scientific study Date Palm can grow very well at a 43 Celsius. However, it has lesser capacity to sustain monsonic rains with ripen fruit.

Besides silt grown land, Date Palm can be grown in an arid zone. It has a capacity of braving salinity and water logging threats very well.

Date Croping


Date Palm Plantation

There are two existing methods of planting Date Palm:

1. Through seeds

2. Through off shoots

The first method is not so popular and often discouraged by leading growers, because of various reasons of its slow growth and output. Off shoot method of plantation is very much popular and successful as well.

The plantation of Date Palm usually takes place twice a year, i.e February to March and June to August. Both these seasons have been described most favourite for establishing Date Palm nursery, by many experts as well as the growers.

36Date Crop

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Following the plantation of Date Palm offshoots, the newly established orchard undergoes watering process as below:

1. During the initial 40 days, the newly established nursery is provided a small quantity of water without any pause.

2. From 40 to 80 days, water is provided on alternative days.

3. The water cycle changes afterwards and the nursery established in the thsummer season is later on provided water on every 4 day.

4. The nursery established in the winter season, had to be watered once a week.

The pollination process in the Date Palm crop is regarded very important and essential job. Although, pollination can take place naturally, but the chances of required output remains low. To avoid the situation, the pollination is managed manually. Charrhas or the climbers perform the job of pollinating manually. Pollination process usually takes place during January to April. For the sake of expediency and efficiency, a scientific machine called Pollen Atomiser Machine has been recently invented and is being used by many progressive Date Palm growers.

This equipment is made to carry pollen to the top of the date palm. It can pollinate between 200 to 300 date palm trees per day by a man. Maximum reach 10 m, with extra extension pipe. It is easy to pollinate 250 trees within 8 hours by one man.

Pollination


Some popular varieties

From harvesting to Date Processing

In Khairpur district alone there are 200 varieties of Date Palm grown in the whole region. They are popular with different names. Some of them are as below:

Dedhi, Aseel, Asul, Kurrh, Nakul, Gajar, Patasho, Pathri, Noori, Dhakki, Narro, Eidan Shah Jo Kuprro, Began, Otakin, Khori Wari, Thothar, Toto, Khurmo, Sawrro, Mithrri, Kasho Wari, Luhar Wari, Achi Gajar, Surmit, Halwaen, Kotaen, Sakhanin, Dahota, Barmo, Ahmed Wari, Piper Wari, Allahen, Ghuri Wari, Taar Wari, Khurmit, Indrri, Badamen, Boobak, Ashrafi, Allah Bakhsh Wari, Sanhi Chapar, Koonj, Dodi, Golrri, Phoopher, Gharrhi Ashrafi, Shabihan, Warangi, Shah Wari, Bahar Wari, Jammu, Mohani Wari, Poong, Sobhari, Kazen, Khahnyanin, Jalebi, Gorrho Misri, Haji Wari, Thorrhi, Hakim Wari, etc.

After the completion of harvesting process, the fruit is brought to the market in different shapes: sun dried and Chuhara. Before the export of the fruit, it is meticulously processed in the factories and packed properly. There are nine such prominent processing factories working in Therrhi area of Khairpur district. They are:

1. Sardar Food2. Sindh Punjab International3. Noor Food4. Mashallah5. Canom Pak6. Royal Food7. Sindh Food8. Supreme International9. Khairpur Food

The Date processing process is based on following lines:

1. Proper fumigation2. Grading3. Chemical application4. Wetting5. Packing

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39Dates Cropof Khairpur

Introduction

Date Palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) is considered as an important cash crop of district Khairpur, which is also major dates producing district in Pakistan. The date palm has an economic importance because of its

fruit, which is most nutritive and energy providing food (Ishtiaq et al., 1988). Dates are rich in certain nutrients and provide a good source of rapid energy due to their high carbohydrate content which is 70-80% (Al-Farsi et al., 2005). In addition to carbohydrates dates contain minerals, proteins, fats and vitamins etc. Date palm cultivars are of three main types according to their fruit moisture content i.e. soft, semi-dry and dry cultivars (Selim et al., 1970). Some researchers characterized dates based on different ways. Hussein et al. (1976) classified 18 of Saudi Arabian date varieties according to the weight system; i.e. fruit weight more than 15 g, from 10 to 15 g and less than 10 g. According to Hussein and Hussein (1982), the average weight, length and diameter of Sakkoti (dry Egyptian variety) were ranged from 6.11 to 8.84 g,

Fruit Characterizationof Pakistani DatesGhulam Sarwar Markhand & Adel A. Abul-Soad

27.75 to 29.45 mm and 12.08 to 13.18 mm respectively. Whereas, Selim et al., (1970) used the fruit flesh weight, thickness of the flesh and pit weight. On the other hand, some of studies utilized the chemical characterization as carbohydrates, minerals, proteins, fats, vitamins and crude fibers. It seems that the differences in these components among different varieties are not significantly different. It should depend firstly on the physical properties which is easy and paramount, and then chemical, if needed. Ismail et al., (2006) reported that chemical and physical characteristics of the fruits influenced their mechanical and rheological properties, which in turn can be indicators of firmness and ultimately of quality. Also, it revealed new and essential information for better understanding of the date fruit that helps to enhance industrialization and propagation of the best date varieties that satisfy producers' as well as consumers' demands.

No one has referred to the color of the variety as a one of visual properties to distinguish dates variety. Also, shape of fruit gave us an idea about the pedigree of the most of varieties. As well as, the earliness of different varieties to determine the availability of fruits in market. In addition, to avoid the monsoon rains as can as possible. This study used as many physical properties as possible to characterize the Pakistani dates of Khairpur district. This district is considered as biodiversity center of date palm.


Increasing the elite varieties and individual lines by tissue culture technique is very important to give the chance to these promising palms to replace the low quality varieties. This work aimed to focus mainly on the Pakistani dates (85 varieties) in district Khairpur, which is the biggest area of date palm in Pakistan. To determine the physical properties of these varieties and selecting the most promising varieties.

This work was performed in Date Palm Research Institute (DPRI), Sindh, Pakistan. This study was carried out on 85 varieties grown in Khairpur district, Pakistan, during the harvest season of 2006. Three uniform palms (20 – 30 years old) were selected from each variety. Samples from each variety were taken. Physical fruit characteristics were estimated as follows:

1. Fruit color (yellow, greenish yellow, red, dark red, orange and spotted orange).

2. Fruit shape (ovate, obovate, ovate elongated, obovate elongated, elliptical, cylindrical, falcoid elongated, spherical and global).

3. Fruit dimensions (length and diameter).

4. Perianth (color and height).

5. Seed (Micropyle position and split).

6. Fruit type (soft, semi-dry and dry).

7. Earliness (early, intermediate and late variety).

8. Edible stage (Khalal, Rutab and Tamer).

Fruit was divided into 3 groups on the basis of its length & diameter. Small fruit (less than 4.0 and 2.4cm), medium fruit (4.0 – 5.0 and 2.5 – 2.9 cm) and large fruit (more than 5.0 and 3.0 cm) respectively. Early varieties are harvested before 10th of July, intermediate harvested before 1st of August, and late varieties are harvested after 1st of August. Regarding the perianth, there are yellow, red, orange and other colors.

The perianth height either 1 mm less means the perianth less than the level of fruit top. Whereas 1-2 mm means the perianth at the same level of fruit top. The third class was more than 2 mm means the perianth position is higher than the fruit top. On the other hand, the Micropyle position means the seed pore near to the head, far from the head or at the middle of seed.

Pictures for each variety were taken. A picture showed the whole fruit at Khalal stage and/or Rutab stage, ventral and dorsal sides of seed, longitudinal and transverse sections of fruit and perianth.

This study is a part of the complete screening of all Pakistani Date varieties which is undertaken by DPRI. Thus each variety will be given a serial number. Also, a simple Performa was made to collect all fruit properties for each variety. Some of these data is classified in preliminary detailed Tables and concluded in Tables 1 to 5. Therefore, the studied varieties were arranged alphabetical. All the data was statistically analyzed by the methods of Steel and Torrie (1980).

Materials and Methods:

Results and Discussion

Varieties: The Aseel variety is the most important commercial variety of Pakistan. This is a predominant variety of Khairpur district (Fig.1). It is an excellent semidry variety with suitable fruit size (4.3 cm in length and 2.5 cm in diameter). These results are in agreement with the findings of Markhand, 1991 and Khushk et al., 2004. The fruit of this variety is consumed at Rutab

throat. This is very important character for the excellent varieties. It is a first candidate for micropropagation. The environmental conditions and soil types play an important role in the properties of this variety's fruit. Aseel fruit produced from palms grown in Eastern part of district (near to small mountain range) has low moisture content. Consequently, the shelf life of this fruit is longer than the fruit of the same variety in the rest of district. The fruit of Aseel variety can not be eaten at Khalal stage due to the high percentage of tannins. Therefore, Rutab and Tamar stages are appropriate for use. According to Tafti and Fooladi (2005) during maturation of fruit tannins and moisture content decreases and in parallel sugar content increases, this makes fruit edible. As Jandan (1974) described ripening of fruit by saying that ripe is an elastic term, meaning dates at the khalal stage to one class of customers and those in the Tamar stage to another.

However, many growers harvest Aseel crop at khalal stage and boil fruit to make "Chuhara". Otherwise, whole of the crop will be destroyed and lost if there is monsoon rain.

The most commonly cultivated in studied varieties were Fasly (Toto) and Karbalian. Fasly fruit (Fig.1 and 2a) is yellow in color, the shape was obovate, fruit size was small, the perianth was yellow in color and at the same level of the fruit top and the Micropyle was far from the top of seed and the split was narrow. People are used to eat fruit of this variety as a fresh, at Khalal & Rutab stage.

Karbalain variety (Fig.1) has yellow, obovate and medium size fruit with yellow perianth above the level of fruit top and the Micropyle was in the middle of seed with deep split. This variety is also a semi-dry and is being eaten at Rutab and Tamar stage only and not at Khalal stage not like Fasly which is mainly eaten at Khalal stage. However, the Fasly variety is early to intermediate and Karbalain is late in harvest.

(Dang) and Tamar (dates) stage. Aseel has sweet taste without scorch in the

10

inches

2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14

Fig. 1: Three predominant varieties in Khairpur district,(from L to R) Assel, Karbalain, and Fasly at Khalalstage.


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Autakin variety is one of the best and famous soft varieties of Khairpur. It is widely spread and semi-sweet with a big size fruit (Fig.2a).

Fruit color and shape: Data in Table 1 shows that the most of Pakistani varieties are yellow color. Around 71 varieties having yellow color, 6 red and 8 orange out of 85 varieties which were under observation. On the other hand, the Pakistani varieties tend to be in a cylindrical shape. Where around 42 varieties are in a cylindrical shape. Secondly, ovate and obovate shapes were commonly obsessed in Pakistani varieties. Where 11 and 12 varieties out of 85 varieties were ovate and obovate shapes respectively. The spherical fruit shape is scare, only one variety was observed having this type of fruit shape in present study.

Fruit dimensions: Data in Table 2 shows the fruit size. Most of the Pakistani varieties have a small size fruit. Fruit of 42 out of 85 varieties was in a range of 2.4–3.9 cm in length and 1.5–2.4 cm in diameter. The fruit of 21 varieties was of a middle size. Where the fruit length was 4.0- 5.0 cm and the diameter was 2.5 –2.9 cm. The predominant variety Aseel is related to this class. Even, if the female palms of this variety are well fertilized and well-pollinated with superior males, the fruit did not exceed from 5 cm in length (Markhand, 1991). However, it has been reported by Iqbal et al., (2004) that the pollination at different times significantly affected fruit length and diameter of Dhakki variety. There is no significant effect of different pollination methods on fruit size of Khalas and Khasab cultivers (El Mardi et al., 2006).

On the other hand, only 16 varieties were having a big size fruit with 5-6 cm length and 3- 4.5 cm diameter. This group of varieties deserves much care and can be utilized only best varieties of this group in mass propagation through traditional methods (by offshoots) or by tissue culture techniques. Finally, the fruit size was significantly varied from one cultivar to another. Similar findings were also reported by Al-Hooti et al., (1997).

Fruit perianth: The color of perianth and height are ranked as genetic properties of each variety. Data in Table 3 shows that the highest percentage of varieties having fruit with yellow perianth (90.5%). Low percentage of varieties has red and orange color perianth (4.8% and 3.5%, respectively). only one variety was with greenish yellow color perianth. There was a significant difference among different varietal groups. Sometimes two varieties are similar in all morphological properties except color of perianth. Moreover, the color of perianth is not necessarily similar to the color of fruit. As found in

10

inches

2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14

(a) (b)

Fig. 2: (a) Autakin and

(b) Kupro varieties at Khalal stages.

Donger variety, this has yellow fruit but red perianth. But this is not the case with the most of varieties where colour of fruit and perianth is same.

Seed: Data presented in Table 4 shows the varieties percentage for fruit seed of studied Pakistani varieties. It is observed that the 51.7% of studied varieties had Micropyle pore in the middle of the seed and significantly different from other groups (near and far groups). Also, it is noticed that no variety was found with Micropyle far from the top of seed.

Regarding the split, most of split

was narrow. Where the percentage of varieties with seed had narrow split was 43.6% followed wide split having 37.6%. Fruit seed is considered as a one of the most important physical characters. Sometimes two varieties are similar in everything except the seed properties. For instance, Kachua Wary and Bhand Wary varieties are similar in all properties except the Micropyle position and split (Fig.3). Where the Micropyle position was far and in the middle respectively. Also, the split was narrow and wide respectively.

Fruit type, earliness and edible stage: Data in Table 5 indicates that the 80% of studied varieties were semi-dry varieties. Around 61.2 of semi-dry varieties were harvested in the middle of harvest season (July). Most of the semi-dry varieties were being eaten at Rutab stage. However, few of semi-dry varieties were harvested early in the end of June and early July (3.5% of studied varieties). These varieties can be eaten at Khalal or Rutab stages. Kupro variety (Fig.2b) was one of these groups and widely cultivated in Khairpur and surrounding areas. A few of studied varieties were soft and eaten only at Khalal stage (14.1% of studied varieties). Whereas, the percentage of dry varieties significantly decreased to 5.9%. These varieties mostly encounter the monsoon rains which starting mostly from the month of July in this district, where the most of palm farms are located in Pakistan (Ahmed et al., 1972). The rain causes damage to most of the crop on the trees. Focus on early and intermediate varieties with good properties should be done. Also, it was observed that most of Pakistani varieties in this area were semi-dry not soft or dry. This may be due to the temperature unit requirements in this area which allows this type of varieties to spread. However, the climatic conditions also permit the growth and development of soft varieties.

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inches

2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14

(a) (b)

Fig. 3: (a) Bhand wary and Kachua Wary (b) varieties aresimilar in all properties except the Micropyle position and split


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Although the color and size properties of fruit are controlled mainly by the type of pollen grain. As well as, these properties may differ from season to season with the use of pollen grains from different palms (Metaxenia) and different pollination timings (Iqbal et al., 2004). It is necessary to take in consideration that the color can't change completely to another color. Same is the case with size. There are many integrated factors which play a role in fruit size. For example fertilization and irrigation operations and head palm treatments. However, it is still remain on an average fruit size, which is preferred to every variety.

Conclusion

The harvest season in Khairpur district starts from 20th of June and extends to 15th of August. There is a great need to determine the naturally resistant varieties to monsoon rains and good quality too for extension in cultivation. Also, to replace the susceptible varieties which are damaged completely if

there is severity of rain drop during the harvest season. Late varieties encounter the risks of heavy raining. Thus the earliness of predominant and commercial varieties is required.

References:

o Ahmed, S. and H. M. Shaikh 1972. Date industry in Khairpur division. P. B. Frt. J. (Date palm No.), W. Pak. Co. OP., Frt. Dev. Dev. Board Ltd., Lyallpur.

o AL-Farsi, M., C. Alasalvar, A. Morris, M. Baron, and F. Shahidi,. 2005. Composition and sensory characteristics of three native sun-dried date (Phoenix dactylifera L.) varieties grown in Oman. J. Agric Food Chem, Vol. 53, No. 19.

o Al-Hooti, S., J. S. Sidhu and H. Qabazard 1997. Physico chemical characteristics of five date fruit cultivars grown in the United Arab Emirates. Plant Foods for Human Nutrition. Vol.50. No.2. Pp. 101-113.

o El Mardi, M. O, Al-Said, F. AJ, Sakit, C. B, Al-Kharusi, L. M, Al Rahbi, I. N and Al Mahrazi, K. 2006. Effect of pollination method and fertilizer and mulch


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treatments on the physical and hemicalcharactersitics of date palm (Phoenix dactylifera) fruit: Physical characteristics. Third Inter. Date Palm Conf. Abu Dhabi, Feb 19-21.

o Hussein, F. and M. A. Hussein 1982. Effect of irrigation on growth, yield and fruit quality of dry dates grown at Asswan. Proc. Of the 1st Symp. On the Date Palm, Al-Hassa 1982, Saudi Arabia. Pp. 168 - 172.

o Hussein, F., S. Moustafa, A. El-Zeid and F. El-Samiraea 1976. Studies on physical and chemical characteristics of eighteen date cultivars grown in Saudi Arabia. Indian J. Hort. Vol.33. No.6.

o Iqbal M., A. Ghaffoor and S. Rehman. 2004. Effect of pollination times on fruit characteristics and yield of date palm cv. Dhakki. Int. J. Agri. Biol. Vol.6, No.1.

o Ishtiaq, M., A. Tariq and A. Khalid 1988. Physical properties of the fruit of some indigenous date palm cultivars grown at D.I.Khan. Sarhad Journal of Agric. Vol.4 No.3. Pp. 271 - 274.

o Ismail, B., I. Haffar, R. Baalbaki, Y. Mechref and J. Henry 2006. Physico-chemical characteristics and total quality of five date varieties grown in the United Arab Emirates. International Journal of Food Science and Technology. Vol.41. No.8. Pp. 919.

o Jandan, D. M. 1974. Studies of some characters of important varieties of date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) grown in Khairpur. M.Sc Thesis, University of Sindh, Jamshoro.

o Khushk, M. K., M.A. Qureshi and M.S. Memon. 2004. General features and properties of date palm fruit of Khairpur. Sci. Sindh, Vol.11, Pp 67-75.

o Markhand, G. S. 1991. Effect of pollen from different male cultivars of Date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) on the quantitative characters and ripening of the fruit of Asell variety. M.Phil Thesis, Shah Abdul Latif University, Khairpur. Selim, H. H. A., M. A. M. Mahdi and M. S. El-Hakeem 1970. Studies on the evaluation of fifteen local date cvs grown under desert conditions in Siwa Oasis, U.A.R., Bull. De L'Inst. Du Desert d'Egypte, T.XVIII. No.1. Pp. 137 - 155.

o Steel, R.G. and J. H. Torrie, 1980. Principles and Procedures of Statistics, a Biometrical Approach. Mc Grow- Hill Book Company, New York. Pp. 469 - 517.

o Tafti, A. G. and M. H. Fooladi. 2005. Changes in physical and chemical characteristic of Mozafati date fruit during development. J. Biol. Sci, Vol. 5 (3), Pp 319-322.

(Dr. Ghulam Sarwar Markhand is Director, Date Palm Research Institute, Shah Abdul Latif University, Khairpur, Sindh, Pakistan & Adel A. Abul-Soad of

Horticulture Research Institute, Agriculture Research Center, Egypt, is presently working in DPRI, SALU, Khairpur)

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Prof. Dr. Ghulam Sarwar Markhand

Dr. Markhand, is a senior academic and the founding father of prestigious Date Palm Research Institute (DPRI), Khairpur. With the assiduous efforts of ardent scholar, DPRI has achieved much more than its actual age and capacity. Dr. Markhand, with the help of his well trained team, has steered the ship of DPRI to the shore and efforts are underway to introduce long term reform agenda, in order to promote Date culture and offer prominence to the local Date produce in the international market.

Excerpts of interview are as under:

█ What were the aims and objectives behind establishing Date Palm Research Institute, DPRI, Khairpur?

Prof. Dr. Ghulam Sarwar Markhand: Actually Date Palm Research Institute project was the brain child of Higher Education Commission and was also funded by itself and in 2007 Shah Abdul Latif University, Khairpur, was commissioned to run it. This area was selected for the establishment of such kind of institution mainly because of its richness in Date cultivation. This is a Biodiversity Center, working over 300 different Date Palm varieties. I took over as its Project Director in late 2005. This institute was mandated to work on the multifaceted features of such as its Date Palm production, protection, biotechnology, plant tissue culture and other issues. Following the establishment of the institute, I tried to establish contact with world acclaim Date Palm scientist, Dr. Adel Ahmed Abul-Soad to come over here and help us establishing plant tissue culture laboratory in July 2006. The laboratory was itself a great job, because Date Palm is a very difficult tree to be tissue cultured. As far as world Date Palm cultivation is concerned. At present there were only two commercial labs in the world, one is in UK and the other is in France. They have very good say in the market and buyers or the growers alike are in a long queue to seek their help in all respects.

From the platform of DPRI, we have achieved tremendously. Nowadays, this has become a potential source of producing and cultivating elite varieties of the world. These varieties are disease free, easy to transport and low cost as well. So, tissue culture provides solution to multidimensional issues and help in growing varieties of the choice and hence improving the income of a common grower as well as enhancing the national kitty. It is also a best source of poverty elevation. This institute owe many more responsibilities also and we are struggling hard to come upto the exception of the common grower and offer him relief in all possible manners.

█

Interviewswith Experts & Leading Date Growers of Khairpur


This area was selected for the establishment of such kind of institution mainly because this is a richly Date cultivating area. This is a Biodiversity Center, working over 300 different Date Palm varieties. I took over as its Project Director in late 2005. This institute was mandated to work on the Date Palm production, protection, biotechnology, plant tissue culture and other issues.

Besides other issues concerning Date Palm cultivation, we are also working on number of problems, such as irrigation, disease, fertilizer and the proper thinning of the crop as well. Through research, it is proved that establishing vast Date orchards is not a big achievement. Achievement is that you earn more from the less acreage of the crop. For example, acreage wise Egypt cultivates Date Palm less, but its earning is more as compared to ours. Egypt cultivates Date Crop on 19 lacs hectors, but its annual income has been recorded as 14 to 15 lacs metric tons. Our crop spreads over 97 lacs hectors, but our annual income was recorded as 725000 metric tons (3 years old figure). That is how we are working to bring our annual produce at par with rest of the world in all respects and improve its quality too.

Simultaneously we are also working on to change the mind set as well as the approach and the attitude of the grower, while establishing the orchard. It needs full attention as generally paid to other crops. We must not let it abandon at the mercy of nature and avoid wishful thinking. It requires proper attention, great care, irrigation, fertilizer and proper thinning as well. We are suggesting to the growers that don't go for increasing bunches of the tree and curtail them to a minimum level so as to improve the quality of the fruit, instead of enhancing the quantity. Some progressive growers have followed our suggestions and are earning good money. In this regard, we have devised awareness based seminars, symposiums and conferences of the growers.

We are also addressing on the crop protection side also. Here in Khairpur region there emerged a disease called Seedobio or drying disease, in which a mature tree declines in a matter of couple of months. This disease out broke in the lush green Date orchards on an alarming proportion. This is a real issue of the region. One of our experts is exclusively working on this disease. At this stage, we have succeeded in separating the pathogens and made some breakthroughs in controlling the disease at its budding stage. Another disease which has caused scarced among the growers is called Red Palm Weevil or ‘Garrho Tindin’. This disease is not only confined in Khairpur or the country at large, but the whole Date producing world is confronted with this havoc. Many groups abroad are working for eliminating this disease, but except through better management they couldn't yet get any major breakthrough. Similarly we have also succeeded in controlling its spread through guidance to the growers.

Crop Protection?

DPRI’s Green House

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Our recommendations are being followed by the growers in the letter and the spirit. They are regularly irrigating, undergo proper fertilization procedures and other things needed to the crop. They have also started applying hygiene methods to find better room in the local as well as the international markets.

DPRI Date Palm Model Nursery

Pre and post-harvesting problems of Date Crop

Post-DPRI Date Crop scenario

Campaigns

From the platform of DPRI, we have also established a date palm model nursery spreading over 8 acres with about 25 varieties from the country. We keep on monitoring their growth and regularly evaluate their fruit as well. The nursery also accommodates 3 international varieties which included Ajwa.

We are well versed about the poor financial conditions of the grower here. They lack most modern system of crop harvesting and they also lag behind as far as modern technology is concerned. They are stick to centuries old methodology. Actually they are trapped by the middle man. In order to provide them relief we are also working on the modalities to seek the help of financial institutions who could support them in the shape of loaning. Besides this we are also in the struggle to motivate some national institutions to come forward and support our growers at the time of harvesting in order to popularize our product in the international market and ensure complete hygiene standards to cater to the requirement of international buyer. For that matter Pakistan science Foundation is actively participating in our cause and helping in to set up solar Dryers in the area. And we are optimistic that during the coming two to three years we would be able to see some positive results.

Yes, following the establishment of DPRI, scenario has quite changed. Our recommendations are being followed by the growers in the letter and the spirit. They are regularly irrigating, undergo proper fertilization procedures and other things needed to the crop. They have also started applying hygiene methods to find better room in the local as well as the international markets. They have also started applying fungicides in the wake of disease threats posed to the crop. Actually that is the success of this institution which has changed the mind set of the grower. With the passage of time we have succeeded in changing the mental approach and the attitude of the grower.

Our every effort is based on to create awareness among the growers regarding crop protection, production and the better management. We are doing all that for the better results and facilitate our grower in all manners. So far we have produced a lot of material for the betterment and guidance of the grower. We usually conduct seminars and ensure large participation of growers and tell them the success stories taking place all around the world to motivate them.


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█

How would you explain that the DPRI has sufficiently fulfilled the needs and expectations of local Date growers as well as scholars and researches from all our the country?

Dr. Adel Abul-Soad: Keeping in view the needs and demands of the growers as well as the area, the institution is striving hard to come up to their expectations and enabled all of them to get benefit out of it through team work. This is a baby and budding institution, it requires lot of energies and work to come up to the expectations of the growers, market and the scholars as well. It requires lot of time and a trained and skilled manpower also.

Do you think that the government has succeeded in promoting Date products and addressing the needs of the growers?

Promotion of the Date Crop and products is very important issue. Although, the present government has tried its best to promote the Date Crop on the international level but lot of efforts are yet required to introduce Date products through exhibitions, seminars, symposiums, conferences etc on the international forums. In addition to this, the government should invite international

business community as well as the research scholars of the field to visit here and have first hand information about the problems confronting to the Date Palm growers community and share their experiences with them, so that the yield can be improved and help the government to earn more foreign exchange. In this regard, I can help the government to offer my services and play my role to invite some of them here and try to resolve the issues, faced to the growers since long. Khairpur Dates have a great potential and through the joint venture with some prominent international Date Palm growers and businessmen, we can easily promote Khairpur Dates and produce name for the area. Despite various problems Date Pam Research Institute (DPRI) has got prominence through out the country and scholars as well as the researchers, who throng here frequently and in large numbers and seek our support. From the platform of DPRI, we have

█

█

Dr. Adel Ahmed Abul-Soad

Dr. Adel is an Egyptian and world renowned Date Palm Scientist, who was invited by the Higher Education Commission to establish and assist Date Palm Research Institute (DPRI), Shah Abdul Latif University, Khairpur, some 5 years back. He was appointed as the consultant and was mandated to establish Date Palm Research Institute under the auspices of SALU, Khairpur. Basically he was commissioned to establish plant tissue culture laboratory and undergo various experiments in this regard. Under his able command, DPRI's Tissue Culture Laboratory achieved tremendous success and its growing with satisfactory pace.


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Promotion of the Date Crop and products is very important issue. Although, the present government has tried its best to promote the Date Crop on the international level but lot of efforts are yet required to introduce Date products through exhibitions, seminars, symposiums, conferences etc on the international forums.

taken number of steps to promote and highlight the problems as well as the interests of the Date growers. In 2009, we published a book on the subject. Again I was invited by the USAID, Pakistan, to prepare a book on the Date Crop, which is almost ready to go to press. This book would be in three languages i.e Sindhi, English and Urdu. The book would provide an insight to a common reader regarding the importance of the Date Crop of Khairpur and would also be helpful in highlighting the issues and problems confronting to the growers.

How would you like to explain the experiment of Plant Tissue Culture and its importance at this budding institution?

Many of our Date Palm growers have questions in their minds about the utility of Plant Tissue Culture and they insist that the DPRI instead of addressing to the real problems of the Date growers is emphasizing and focusing over the experimentation process. Academically speaking, DPRI is a research based institution led by renowned experts of the subject. We can't work at the whims of any individual. We had to go by our mandate & work on the projects which would have long reaching effects on the life & income of the common grower as well as the area. For this I feel qualified to ask few questions from all those who have any reservations on our mode of work. For example, that why do the Date growers always demand from the government as well as the financial institutions for loans. Why they do rely upon the loaning of the local Mandi by mortgaging their whole crop? Why the India is re selling Pakistani Date products in high prices in the international market. The local Date Palm grower is thriving on a stereo type mechanism and is stick to the ages old Date varieties, in complete contrast to the principles and the needs of the international market. Although, they were aspiring to introduce some foreign varieties in their orchards, but due to various factors, such as price and transportation have always deprived them of this opportunity. Following the establishment of DPRI, the unique institution of its kind throughout Pakistan, we studied and analyzed all the problems and tried our best to offer relief and remedy to them on priority basis, in order to improve their income and help them to compete in the international market with pride. Presently, the total yield of a Date tree varies from Rs. 1000 to Rs. 1600, whereas there are trees fondly grown in the world & are also popular varieties, which can offer yield upto Rs. 1 lac. Unfortunately, the purchase

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As far as Pakistani Date is concerned, they are very rich in varieties and in Sindh alone there are 300 varieties of Dates. All they are marketable and having economic value at domestic level. Aseel variety is on the top, Dhakki is on the 2nd number, Begum Jangi (from Turbat Balochistan) is 3rd in the line.

of their offshoots and their transportation is not a common man's task. Keeping in view the demands of the international market, we introduced tissue culture, through which we will be able to introduce those international varieties locally and sale them on reasonable prices. This effort on our part would prove a great socio-economic revolution in the area in general and the country in particular. Within a brief span of time we would be able to multiply the growth of those international date varieties which would also help in replacing the centuries old varieties of Date Crop. Secondly, we are also in the process of devising a potential strategy to avoid annual disasters which cause damage to the mature Date Crop in the wake of monsoonic rains. For that we are planning to introduce some late varieties which could potentially brave rain damages in the larger interests of the growers. The establishment of plant tissue culture laboratory in DPRI is an exclusive gift from my side to this institution and it is based on my 18 years long research on the subject. We have several other avenues to focus upon and get results for the benefit of the growers as well as in the larger national interests of the country, but unfortunately due to lake of funding and budgetary constraints, we are unable to take momentum and grow our pace of research in the field. Once our products were shifted to the fields of common growers and when they started getting the yield, they would certainly realize and answer themselves the utility of plant tissue culture and would also acknowledge our long efforts and struggle in this respect.

How would you explain and identify characteristics of Date Palm and the problems faced to the growers here in Sindh and those at abroad?

This is a very interesting question. The Date grower of Khairpur is very clever, but they lack knowledge about the problems and diseases faced to the crop. For that literacy is important factor. People are very hard working and usually work at low wage and price as compared to the wage standards of the world. The important question is that despite their cleverness and hard work they don't give proper attention to their produce and avoid to come up to the international standards and meet the hygiene standards. As far as Pakistani Date is concerned, they are very rich in varieties and in Sindh alone there are 300 varieties of Dates. All they are marketable and having economic value at domestic level. Aseel variety is on the top, Dhakki is on the 2nd number, Begum Jangi (from Turbat Balochistan) is 3rd in the line. This is how if you have a chance to visit various Date processing factories in Khairpur you will find 90% of Aseel variety being processed and packed. It is of a high value and demanded by the market.

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54Date Crop

of Khairpur

Presently, the total yield of a Date tree varies from Rs. 1000 to Rs. 1600, whereas there are trees fondly grown in the world & are also popular varieties, which can offer yield upto Rs. 1 lac. Keeping in view the demands of the international market, we introduced tissue culture, through which we will be able to introduce those international varieties locally and sale them on reasonable prices.

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The successful plantation of Ajwa variety in the premises of Shah Abdul Latif University, Khairpur, has raised question marks among the Date growers as well as the religious scholars. According to a version that Ajwa variety can only grow in Madina and can't be cultivated outside the holy land. Do you agree with this version?

Yes, except Madina it is a popular version that Ajwa cannot be cultivated anywhere in the world. Ajwa's offshoot was brought here by Dr. A.R Malik, then Vice Chancellor of SALU and was planted by Dr. Markhand and his team. When I came here and worked on the newly cultivated plants and engaged my students to work on its fruit and vegetation and we were surprised to get high quality fruit perhaps much better than the quality of Madina fruit. More surprisingly it has also started giving offshoots (jhat). So here it is proved that we have a favourable climate for cultivating any Date Palm grown in any part of the world. In that way, we can provide this sort of quality Date Palms to the growers in thousands in a very short span through the experiment of plant tissue culture. With the cultivation of Ajwa like popular Date trees on a large scale in Khairpur or elsewhere, would bear great service on the part of DPRI and it would by and large succeed in overcoming the financial problems of the growers. Because Ajwa Date is sold at 70 Rayal per kg in Saudi Arabia and its price in other countries may be higher. With the cultivation of this sort of popular international varieties, the local growers would be compelled to quit centuries old varieties and switch over to the cultivation of Ajwa like high valued varieties.

Do you have any credible information about the claim that the Ajwa can only be cultivated in Madina and can’t grow anywhere in the world?

I don't know much about this claim but there is yet another variety called Diglit Noor, which is originated from Moroco and also grown in Tunis, for which various experiments have been made by the experts to introduce its growth elsewhere in the world but all in vain. Recently I was invited by the California University and we held deliberations on the subject. It requires a particular climate and a particular soil as well. Similarly, for every tree special kind of climate and soil is required.

Following the successful cultivation of Ajwa like variety in Khairpur, can we undergo the experiment of cultivating Diglit Noor like varieties on the soil of Sindh?

No doubt, through experiments we can introduce cultivation of such kind of rare varieties in Khairpur or elsewhere.

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Semi-ripedfruit of Ajwa tree at DPRI, Khairpur.


█ What mechanism you apply to facilitate local Date growers and control over their annual date yield?

Seth Lachmandas: Through loaning we facilitate and assist the Date growers to meet their day to day needs. Generally the loaning process is started in the month of January. We provide loans to 75% of the Date growers of the whole region, while rest of them work independently and on their own resources. And thus, all beneficiaries become bound to give their produce to us. Similarly we also depend upon State Bank of Pakistan, which supports us through export loans.

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Seth LachmandasSeth Lachmandas is Secretary General, Agha Qadir Dad Chuhara Market Association, Sukkur and also a prominent Date Exporter of Pakistan. In this brief interview he dwelt on the range of issues pertaining to the date growers to date export.


56Date Crop

of Khairpur

█ What mechanism you apply, if any grower disregarding the agreement, undergo deals with outside parties?

We apply 10% commission over them and henceforth they are blacklisted once and for all. But usually this do not happen, because we offer loaning to only credible and potential growers. We are dealing with the generations of Date growers through the generations. In the cases of major rain disaster that usually occur, we don't create problems for the affected growers & give them leverage. We treat them part of our business and respect each other.

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Chuhara beingdownloaded inQadir Dad Chuhara Mandi, Sukkur.


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What is the annual Chuhara export of India?

Annually we export 15 to 17 lacs bags of Chuhara (each bag contains 71 kg) to India. It means 95% of the Chuhara product is usually exported to India every year.

Which quality of Chuhara is exported?

Mainly there are three qualities of Chuhara: 'chaloo', medium and supper. The supper quality of Chuhara is usually exported to India, while we sale medium quality locally and the 'chaloo' quality is taken away by the 'chalia' companies, who use its crush in their products. It is a meager and discarded quality of the market. But even then it do not go unutilized.

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A view ofKhairpur Chuhara Mandi.

Chuhara being weighed

& loaded in Khairpur Mandi.

58Date Crop

of Khairpur

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Can you name first the grower from Khairpur who established an organised date orchard?

Molvi Sadruddin Phulpoto: No one can claim so nor I do have any knowledge. Because Sindh's Date Crop has 1300 years old history. We can identify the existing varieties and their origin but can't claim with authority about the promoter of this crop in this region. Actually this was the area where did the army of Muhammad Bin Qasim stationed who brought along theirselves dates and thrown its seed here and there and thus began the growth of Date Crop in the area.

What is the total date produce of the district?

Presently its 4 lacs matric tons. According to last year's data about 85000 matric tons of date was exported. If the government will support us and listen to our problems we would be able to produce more quality fruit and the export can be increased to 0.3 million tons.

What the total area over which the Date Crop spreads in Khairpur?

The Date Crop in Khairpur spreads over 1 lack acres of land with main concentration in Khairpur, Kingri, Gambat and Kot Diji Talukas.

How would you like to comment over the successful experiment of growing sacred variety of Ajwa in Khairpur?

Yes it is a very positive development. It was for the first time planted by our Prophet Hazrat Muhammad (PBUH) in Madina. The tree grown in the premises of Shah Abdul Latif University has started bearing fruit. Very surprisingly the size of its fruit is comparatively bigger than the one grown in Madina.

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Molvi Sadruddin Phulpoto

Besides being a progressive horticulturist of Khairpur zone, Molvi Sadruddin Phulpoto poses an encyclopedic knowledge about the fruit crops specially the date crop grown in the area. He is a leading zamindar as well as a prominent date exporter. According to his knowledge the history of date crop in Sindh particularly in Sukkur and Khairpur is related to the Arab invasion. He claims that the Arab army led by Muhammad Bin Qasim, which stationed in the area for sometime thrown date seeds in abundance and thus causing the natural growth of crop in large scale. Molvi Sadruddin is the founder and head of Sindh Date Growers’ Association. He is based in Khairpur.



At least 60,000 labourers belonging to many parts of Sindh, Punjab an Balochistan come here every year and participate in the harvesting process. They come along with tractor and trollies and go back to their areas after two months when the whole date harvesting, dehydration and other process come to an end.

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During the annual harvesting season how much labour is required in the whole district?

At least 60,000 labourers belonging to many parts of Sindh, Punjab and Balochistan arrive here every year and participate in the harvesting process. They come along with tractor and trollies and work here until the completion of the process. The process complete in two months. They take part in harvesting to dehydration (Chuhara making process) & finally loading and transporting to fruit market.

A remedy to avoid rain related damages to the Date Crop has been suggested as covering the date bunches with bitumen paper. Do you think, is it possible to began the wrapping process in an emergency and again removing the wrapper when the raining finally stop?

Absolutely not possible. Ofcourse, we can save a small quantum of crop but can not control the damage cent percent.

What are the main diseases of Date Crop?

Since last 15 years a disease called as Boroures has spread to a great proportion causing great losses to the farmers. It is caused due to the penetration of a Red Palm Weevil into the tree through a porous space in the trunk made while detaching an off shoot. After entry into the tree the deadly bee began its operation and destroy the whole tree just in 20 days. Agricultural scientists have though identified the causes of the disease but couldn't eradicate it completely. Another disease that began from the canopy and slowly trickles down to the bottom of the tree and make it dry in 15 days.

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60Date Crop

of Khairpur

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What were the causes of failure of Date processing plant established by Lipton company Ltd and Lever Brothers in Khairpur?

1982. It was headed by one Mr. Masood, who was very good manager and earned lot of revenue. With the arrival of these companies Chuhara production experienced sharp decline and the trade of sun dried dates grown to unprecedented level. Lipton company management devised an strategy to directly purchase the harvested crop from the growers. That proved very positive and beneficial for both company and the grower. The practice didn't last long and soon the company was purchased by the Lever brothers which altered its purchase strategy. As against the policy of the past management the new management began purchasing the harvest from the middle man. With it they failed to maintain the standard and the quality of fruit and complaints began piling up. So much so at one point a large export consignment was returned back by the importer. It completely ruined the company and they had to wind up soon.

Isn't it unfair to demand from the government to establish Cold storages and other facilities. Why don't the big growers and exporters of the area setup their own cold storages or processing plants?

Majority of the date growers are middle class and it is out of their financial capacity establish cold storages and purchase costly processing machines. They are trapped in number of problems. The government should initiate first or provide some facilities to the growers so that they can manage every thing and come upto the expectation.

But this is a one time investment…

True, but people don’t understand the ground realities. Majority of our growers are paid in advance by the Mandi. In this way, they don’t have sufficient fund to initiate such sort of projects. Do you know the expenses to be incurred on a cold storage? It ranges from 3 to 4 crores, none of us can afford to invest that much amount.

What could be the capacity of a standard cold storage?

Near about 5000 maunds of Dates can be stored at a time.

For how long the fresh date can be preserved?

It can be preserved for more than 15 months. But Dung (Rutab) can't be preserved for more than 3 months.

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Lever Brothers Company came to establish its date processing plant in


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How can income generation of a grower be improved and bring prosperity in the area?

Basically we are stick to three centuries old methodology of harvesting to date drying or dehydrating process. We couldn’t yet switch over to mechanized system of harvesting etc. Like the Governments of Iran, Iraq, Saudi Arabia and other date producing countries where date drying processors are running on government expenses on those patterns if government started patronising the Date growers, we would certainly be able to improve income generation and also could help the country at large to earn more foreign exchange and contain pre and post harvesting damages.

Is it true that India is involve in illegal exporting of Pakistani Chuhara to the rest of the world with its trade mark?

Yes, ofcourse. Its involve in this mischief but no body is there to take notice. I personally detected a packet of Chuhara in Srilanka inscribing

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Date workersbusy in sorting

‘Dung’ out ofthe harvested

bunch.

62Date Crop

of Khairpur

'made in India'. I took the packet to Pakistani embassy and met with the commercial secretary and lodged my protest against India’s violation of trade and commerce regulations.

How can these sort of violations on the part of India be controlled and exposed?

Its the job of the government to take note of this kind of Indian violation and arrange date exhibitions particularly in those countries where India exporting our fruit. Through this we can involve their Chamber of commerce and importers and could successfully highlight the significance of our fruit and pave the way for marketing our products. For example, earlier Bangladesh was not importing our Date fruit but we went there and setup exhibitions there and made her convinced to import our item every year.

How did India react when the ‘Chuhara’ production declined?

India was quite disturbed for quite some time and it compelled her to revise and improvise the rates.

What are the reasons that our date fruit couldn't achieve prominence on International level?

There are various reasons responsible for this flaw. Lack of knowledge and awareness about the international standards of hygiene etc combined together lack of resources available with the farmer are some of the main reasons behind this fact. Fro the platform of Sindh Date Growers Association, we have requested to the district government of Khairpur to facilitate the Date growers to arrange Date drying machines on subsidized rates. Unfortunately, in the whole district only two such plants are working. One owned by me and an other by Hafiz Abdul Haleem at Therrhi. Through this mechanized system we easily dry up as many as 30 maunds of dates in hardly three days as compared to the old manual system which takes at least seven days to get them dry. Moreover, through this system quality and the standard of the fruit is also ensured. Besides quantity we should also ensure quality to compete in the international market. Due to our flawed system we continue suffer great losses in the market. For example, the rates of date varieties produced by different countries are compared as; Tunis date costs 4000$ per ton, Saudi Arabian Date 3000$ per ton, Iranian 2500$, Iraqi Date costs 2000$ while quite un fortunately our date fruit's international price is hardly 1200$ per ton. I am quite optimistic that if the government cooperated with us in setting up modern drying plants on the pattern of Dubai, Saudi and other countries, our date fruit would earn revenue in the International market more than the double to existing price.

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Like the ensuing research on mango or the other fruits, do you think that any breakthrough has been made in the Date Crop research?

Very unfortunately so far no such breakthroughs have been achieved. We have Date research centre in Kot Diji, which was established about two decades ago has contributed zero in the concerned field. We urge the government to get it mobalise and it should have also the representation of the local growers as well. Similarly, as compared to the performance of Faisalabad Agriculture University and other institutions of the other provinces which go on running awareness campaigns among the growers and the farmers on number of issues round the year, but unfortunately our universities can't hold a seminar on any issue one's in the year. This is how our sufferings go on double.

Can you name few more progressive prominent date growers of Khairpur?

There are so many but some of them have produced their name through their constant struggle in the field. Among them including Abdul Sattar Mangi, Abdul Ghani Mooraijo, Hafiz Abdul Haleem Memon, Wahid Bux Mahar, Imam Din Jamali, etc.

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During Dateharvesting seasonall the availabletransportationresources are utilised to shift the fruit to dehydrators.

64Date Crop

of Khairpur

Hafiz Abdul Haleem MemonA prominent date grower and exporter, based in Therrhi, Khairpur. He is an innovative and has introduce number of techniques at his farm to produce name and compete in the international market. As a part of his mission to quit manual system of farming, harvesting and transportation. He is striving hard to switch over mechanical form of farming. At the initial stage he has setup date drying tunnel based on solar energy, at his farm and is satisfactorily progressing. He is also planning to introduce few more changes in the near future. He is hopeful that other growers of the area would also simulate his techniques, in order to give the date produce in the area, a prominent place in the international market.Excerpts of interview are as under:

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What are the main causes behind the fact that the Date growers of this region couldn’t yet switched over to the most modern technology for preparation of Chuhara and drying the Dates?

Hafiz Abdul Haleem Memon: Financial problems are the only cause that has by and large made the local grower to remain stick to the manual system of process. Majority of date growers are very poor people and they usually draw advance payments from the Mandi (Market). Kadirdad Date Market in Sukkur is believed to be third biggest in whole Asia. Expenses incurred during the course are very high.

Why do the local grower avoid purchasing modern machinery and equipments, which may prove time saver and contain the cost and hence enhance the productivity and generate more income?

Illiteracy and financial poverty are the prime reasons for our collective failure to adopt modern trends and purchase machinery. They can't purchase costly machinery and equipments. They are completely beyond their reach. They can either manage through by selling a piece of land or landing the money from the market. It's the job of the government to come forward and provide machinery on subsidized rates. For example I got the Date Dryer at a subsidized rate through the help of district government of Hyderabad. It costs 0.8 million. This technology needs to be popularized in the area. Madam Nafeesa Shah, is taking keen interest towards the development of date industry. She has conceived lot of things and has floated on high level too.

Do you think that the district government should motivate Parks and horticulture department in this regard?

Ofcourse, they should do it with out losing any opportunity. The department should hold seminars, workshops and design awareness programs which may help the growers to contain the cost and control over the pre and post harvesting damages. The department should work round the year. It should develop a model farm and apply modern methodology in order to motivate the common farmer. At the time of date dehydration process their representative should pay visit to every orchard and guide the processors and help them to quicken it or try to learn them the things in order to cater to the market requirements. They also should go on collecting data and establish a data bank which can be beneficial for the government, farmers and all those entrepreneurs who intend to invest in this field.

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Which country is the main importer of locally prepared Chuhara?

India is the main importer of our Chuhara product. It imports our Chuhara in large quantity, and after necessary process and refinement further export it to other countries, which is the clear cut violation of trade rules. Many times I saw our products in Saudi Arabia with Indian labels and trademarks.

Why does the fresh fruit can’t sustain much in the market?

Its only because we don't have cold storages. We kept on demanding from the governments of the time to help us develop cold storages. The government should devise a policy to establish cold storages on UC level by involving local Zamindars. Zamindars' contribution in this regard would enhance ownership spirit. We are ready to cooperate with the government. We can keep our fresh fruit whole the year and earn more revenue.

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Dates are beingdried in thesolar tunnelat the farm ofHafiz A. Haleem.The fruit get dryat the tempretaure

oof 65 to 70 C.o

Chuhara beingdried on mats onHafiz A. Haleem’sfarm at Therrhi.Instead of twigsmade basket,fiber glass baskets are being used.

66Date Crop

of Khairpur

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How long Dung or half-ripped date can be preserved in cold storage?

Round the year we can preserve Dung and can consume it.

What are the main varieties of dates produced in district Khairpur are its surroundings?

Like Sindhrri variety is considered to be the king of all mangoes, similarly Aseel is regarded as the king of entire Date crop. It is produced here in large number and more than 80 percent orchards have Aseel variety in large number. Others are Karbalian, Daidhee (both the varieties were imported by the former rulers of Khairpur State from Iraq), Illahin, Kurrh, Dhakki etc some of the popular varieties grown in this region. Chuhara is prepared from Aseel and Karbalian. Dhakki is also very good variety as far as Chuhara preparation is concerned. Its advisable that we should grow Dhakki in large number. Because as compared to Aseel it ripes early and is also double. Its offshoot is costly and moreover its transportation is also costly from DI Khan. An offshoot of Dhakki (Plant) costs Rs. 1000. This variety is very good alternative of Aseel variety. Government should import this seed from Iraq in large number so that we can get rid of Aseel and replace it with Dhakki.

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Fibre glassbaskets beingfilled withdehydratedDates. This isa latest techniqueimployed by Hafiz Haleemat is Date farm.

Chuharas transporation to market.


Illiteracy and financial poverty are the prime reasons for our collective failure to adopt modern trends and purchase machinery. They can either manage through by selling a piece of land or landing the money from the market.

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Is it true that some mysterious diseases have reportedly destroyed many orchards of Khairpur. What measures have been taken to control the diseases and how did government respond in this connection?

Yes, many diseases have surfaced during the past many years which have ruined many trees and orchards in the area, however except preventive measures no proper medicine has been prescribed tempting growers to carry out self medication. For example we usually use rotten mobil oil and other anti virus pesticides as a remedy against Red Palm Weevil. As far as virus that dry up the date tree in a slow and steady process, no body could yet suggest the name of that particular disease or prescribe any pesticide. We all are collectively responsible for all that ruining. When we will go on ignoring natural course, ultimately nature will take its own course. Most of us sow every crop in the date orchards. We damn care about the health of the date crop and don't hesitate to grow rice like crops in the date orchards, which has been strictly forbided by the scientist. We ought to know the water consumption capacity of date tree too before sowing rice and other crops which consume more water. It has been witnessed that the virus has ruined the trees only in the areas where rice is sowed. The virus has destroyed many orchards in the Kingri Taluka particularly which is a rice producing area.

How much quantity of Chuhara is produced annually?

Annually 16 to 17 lacks of bags full of Chuhara are prepared. Each bag contains at least 100 kgs.

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68Date Crop

of Khairpur

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What is the contribution of concerned national institutions and foreign agencies towards the development of date crop in Khairpur region and making it a popular exportable commodity?

Ghulam Qasim Jiskani: Date crop is the identity of Khairpur district and it has lush green organized orchards unlike the other parts of the world. We have two popular varieties viz; Aseel and Karbalian, which dominate over whole the crop. There are few more date varieties in the world. Deplorably not much efforts have been taken in the past to address the date export related or other issues which resulted in immense loss. However, with the coming into power, the present PPP government has substantially contributed positively for the improvement of date export and other related issues. Unfortunately we lag behind the date producing countries such as Saudi Arabia, Tunis, Iran or Iraq which have remarkably advanced in the field of research and have introduced number of varieties. Through research activity they have not only improved the yield but also earning more foreign reserves. Our institutions need to be active and it's their prime job to guide the common grower and help him to earn more out of less cultivated area.

Is it true that the more than 90 percent of this region's Chuhara (dehydrated date) is usually exported to India?

True. Due to varied reasons the major portion of the total date produce is dehydrated in locally arranged dehydrators and hence converted into Chuhara. Following the dehydration process is over, the Chuhara is shifted to the local market for further formalities and finally it is readied to be exported to India. India has monopolized the import of our date product. She fixes the rate of its own and moreover it further export our date items after getting it reprocessed and repacked with their own logo signs and trade marks, which is totally against the regulations of trade and commerce. Neither our governments have taken notice of this fraudulent practice nor have ever our exporters raised their eye

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Ghulam Qasim Jiskani

An eminent zamindar of Khairpur. He regularly pay visits to foreign counties and participate in agriculture related seminars, symposiums as well as the exhibitions. He possess lot of experience in exporting Date Fruit and has extensive knowledge about India’s monopoly over the export of Date Fruit of Khairpur.



India has monopolized the import of our date product. She fixes the rate of its own and moreover it further export our date items after getting it reprocessed and repacked with their own logo signs and trade marks, which is totally against the regulations of trade and commerce.

brows over this sheer injustice on the part of India. It all happen due to lack of facilities to the growers and the mischief of the exporters who do not follow international standards of quality and hygiene. Moreover, our farmer lack the facility of modern machinery and equipments through which the product can be processed and packed according to the need of International purchaser. This flaw on our collective part has devalued our product and provided chance to India to capitalize our shortcoming.

To what other countries our Chuhara is further fraudulently exported by the India?

There are number of Muslim or the non-Muslim countries of the world to which India is involve in this illegal trade and earning name and fame at our expense. The countries which further import our date from India including Bangladesh, Nepal, Maldives, Indonesia, Malaysia and many other countries of the world where Chuhara is used in religio- social rituals.

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Date Cropharvesting in full swing in

Khairpur.The Charrha

or climber rise tothe canopy

with the help of ‘Chamand’

a lose rope worn around his waist.

70Date Crop

of Khairpur

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What are the causes of our failure to develop more items and make them exportable other than making Chuhara or getting sun dried dates etc?

There are lot of problems faced to the common grower which by and large hampered the growth of date industry in Khairpur or else where in Sindh. In my opinion the basic problem faced to the grower is of lack of education and ultimately the communication gap. Number two, our governments are also responsible for this short coming. Because until we are unable to see the development being carried out in the other date producing countries of the world, we shall continue to move in the dark and go on multiplying our losses.

How can we counter and contain Indian monopoly in the annual export of Chuhara?

Yes, we can efficiently control Indian monopoly and bring it to its kneals by discouraging Chuhara production. We should divert our attention towards preparing and producing sun dried date item keeping in mind the hygiene standards of the world. When the Chuhara production would be drastically curtailed it would ultimately increase in its demand and hence growth in price too. Ofcourse, avoiding disaster in the wake of monsoon rains, the crop is harvested in haste and dehydrated without delay. However, if there would have been any facility of covering the tree bunches from rain and avoiding losses, no grower would opt to harvest the crop in the middle.

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Each tree usually grow 12 to 15 bunches while only one Charrha (climber) is usually employed on 1000 trees. In this condition is it humanly possible to wrap up date farm spreading over at least 2000 trees in the rain related emergency?

Yes, it is quite possible provided you streamline the system. A met office should be established in Khairpur which should regularly update the farmer with weather forecast. With it your 80 percent problem would stand resolved. Paper bags should be supplied on subsidized rates and must have been made available in the local market on cheaper rates. We can earn more revenue through dried date as compared to Chuhara and the cost of the paper bag can be earned through the date export.

Do you think that when you will switch over to new trend of producing dried dates instead of dehydrated dates, ultimately you will require cold storages to preserve the fruit and maintain the quality and standard. Is there any such facility in Khairpur or Sukkur?

Ofcourse there is no facility of cold storage in our city. For this matter the government would have to cooperate with the grower. There is an urgent need of chain of cold storages and dehydration plants as well to sufficiently counter the rain related disasters that usually ruin the annual cash crop of the area.

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72Date Crop

of Khairpur

Khairpur being the area of Date Palm was given an opportunity to establish Date Palm Research Institute (DPRI), Shah Abdul Latif University, Khairpur to conduct research on various aspects of date palm. The DPRI project was approved by Higher Education

Commission, Islamabad. Following the completion of project in November 2007, the Institute was made the part of University on the recurring budget. The Institute is run by Prof. Dr. Ghulam Sarwar Markhand as a Director with a team of Researchers. Dr. Adel Ahmed Abul-Soad world known Date Palm Scientist from Horticulture Research Institute, ARC, Egypt was hired by HEC as consultant, who is using his expertise on all aspects of date palm and applying his own-developed technique in Micropropagation of date palm (Inflorescence explant).

Date PalmResearch Institute[DPRI]


Biotechnology and Tissue Culture

The Biotechnology and Tissue Culture of Date Palm is one of the major objectives of the Institute. It is the core area of date palm industry in the world nowadays. The reason is the demand, to get as maximum as possible plants free of pests and pathogens from elite varieties. Interestingly, the price of one date palm plantlet derived from tissue culture is around 20-50$. Few

,labs in the world succeeded to produce in vitro true-to-type plantlets of Date Palm. DPRI is trying to be one of those labs in the world. It is pertinent to mention here that Scientists conducting research on this subject in Pakistan for decades were until recently without any potential success.

A well equipped & most modern tissue culture lab was established in the Institute. The Lab is fully equipped and looks as a commercial lab of any advanced country. All modern facilities are available in the lab with strict control of Tissue Culture regime and environment. The section is also equipped with all essential instruments for the Genetical studies of the micropropagated plantlets to ensure the genetic stability of them like their mother plants.

The Micropropagation work of selected date palm varieties is progressing very well. The world's unique method of Inflorescence Culturing has been started in 2007 on elite varieties of Date Palm with the help of Dr. Adel who is the pioneer of this technology in DPRI. The Inflorescence technology established in this lab to produce the date palm plantlets is a novel and viable for

commercial purposes.

DPRI succeeded to produce plantlets after only one year of starting the technical work by "Inflorescence Technique". DPRI has established cultures of many elite varieties in the lab for commercial production. These varieties are Gulistan and Dhakki from D.I. Khan area; Muzawati and Rabie from Balochistan; Kurh, Dedhi, Kashoo Wari, Gajar, Nur Aseel and Aseel from Khairpur; Zaghloul (the common Soft variety in Egypt) and Barhee (one of the best semi-dry varieties in the world) from Egypt.

The DPRI team has produced many thousand cultures of above varieties. The sub culturing of thousands of cultures present in the jars and tubes in the Lab is carried out regularly. The cultures are at various stages of growth. Most of the cultures are at multiplication stage. The adaptation process is also going on for well-rooted plantlets. Presently 4-5 thousand plantlets are growing well in Glass House and 2-3 thousand plantlets from them are ready for shifting to the open field. First tissue culture plant was shifted to the open field recently. The devoted team of researchers, technicians and supportive staff is busy in their scheduled work round the year. The source of plant material for Tissue Culturing is mainly Inflorescence and Culturing is

regularly carried out in every season.

Group of four Research Associates is working at this stage on the Biotech and Tissue Culture of Date Palm. Three of them are registered in M.Phil whereas fourth one is in Ph.D program, who is working on the molecular characterization of elite local varieties of Date Palm.

Taking in consideration the vast background of Dr. Adel on applied tissue culture, this section further extended its work on Pineapple, Banana, Mango, orcids, etc. The Banana plantlets of two best varieties of the world, William and Grand Naine were successfully micropropagated and then shifted to the Glass House for hardening and adaptation early this year. Few hundreds of them were disseminated to the progressive growers where they are fruiting well, and the pineapple plants are growing well in Green House. They are ready to plant them in field for evaluation.

Date Palm Nursery was established at the institute having offshoots of different varieties obtained from Balochistan, KPK and Sindh provinces of Pakistan and three varieties from Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The offshoots are growing very healthy and started bearing fruit. Irrigation, fertilization, foliar and pesticide sprays and ploughing of land of the nursery is undertaken on regular basis. The establishment of Nursery is a result of an effort to collect and preserve germplasm. This collection will prove to be a good source of all kinds of experimental work and studies.

liftodinia

Date Palm Nursery

Fruit of Ajwa variety imported from Saudi Arabia. The tree is now five years old and is located in the premises of DPRI, Khairpur.

Safawi variety imported from Saudi Arabia, at Date Palm Nursery,DPRI.


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76Date Crop

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Crop Protection

The mission of this section is to protect Date Palm from harmful diseases. The work in this section is carried out by a team of Field Assistants and Research Associate in guidance of Director and Consultant of Institute. The Research Associate is registered in Ph.D Program. The regular visits of Date Palm orchards and meetings with growers are the main venture of this section. DPRI team is extending cooperation and making suggestions to the growers and devising future strategies to control various problems of Date Palm.

A comprehensive survey of the area was conducted by DPRI team to observe and record different diseases and pests of date palm. Most harmful and dangerous disease found during the survey was drying out of trees. This disease is real threat to the Date Palm of this region.

Keeping in view the gravity of the problem, the team was sent again to determine the incidence of this disease and samples were collected from different locations of whole the region where problem of drying of trees was observed. The specimen were taken from infected roots, stems and leaves and infested soils etc. The samples were brought to specialized research laboratory for isolation and identification of pathogens responsible for sudden decline of Date Palm in this area. Infected samples were washed

several times with tap water to remove the attached soil particles. The samples were cut into small pieces, rinsed several times in sterilized distilled water, disinfected with 0.1% Sodium hypochlorite and then washed three times with sterilized water and dried between folds of sterilized filter papers.

The sterilized fragments of samples were aseptically transferred to Petri dishes containing 20 ml of potato dextrose agar

°(PDA) medium and incubated at 25 C for 5 days. The emerging colonies were sub cultured and single spore colonies stored on PDA with help of isolation needle. The identification of fungi was made as per key developed by Ellis (1971), Booth (1971) and Domsech et al. (1980)

Mainly the Fusarium solani, Phoma spp. Alternaria alternata, Aspergilus niger and Penicillium spp. were isolated from affected date palm samples. Fusarium solani was isolated predominantly from infected roots followed by Phoma spp. and Alternaria alternata. This is the first record of Fusarium solani from Pakistan and its association with decline of date palm.

The Institute selected one of the infested date palm orchards near Pir-jo-Goth as experimental plot and conducted experimental work to control this problem. In this experiment various doses of insecticides and fungicides were used besides control through good agricultural practices (GAPs) of primary tillage equipment in summer seasons to reduce the infection of soil borne pathogens. Infected date palms were selected in this experiment. The infected leaves and offshoot coming out from the trunk were cut down that created wound on the trunk and then thoroughly treated using high volume compressor for spraying of fungicides on infected trees.

Three different fungicides were used in the field at 15 days interval on affected trees to see their effect on the disease incidence. Topsin M (Thiophanate methyl) significantly reduced the disease incidence and

improved health of tree and fruit weight followed by Copper Oxychloride (Champion) and Dithane M-45 (Mancozeb) as compared to untreated (control) trees.

The experiments of Pathogenicity test of fungi were conducted on seedlings of different date palm varieties. The seedlings were transplanted to the Pots having sterilized soil and were allowed to establish roots and resume growth. The seedlings in one set of Pots were inoculated with fresh and pure culture of fungi which was produced in the Lab. The other set of Pots was not inoculated with fungi and used as a control.

Plantation of 1st Date Palm tissue plant in open field was performed by

Dr. G.S Markhand, Dr. Adel & others.

Curing andprotection ofthe infecteddate palmorchards byFungicide Spray.

Protection by Plant Injection

technique.


78Date Crop

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The objective of this experiment was to confirm that the cultures of the infected date palm parts could produce the same disease in healthy seedlings. The inoculated seedlings were dried out while the control ones remained healthy. Thus, the results proved that the fungi used in the inoculation experiments produced the same disease in the seedlings which was observed in orchards of the area.

Presently this section reconducting the experiment with some modifications to control the date palm orchard attacked by soil borne pathogens near Babarloi town. In this experiment the application of fungicide is through plant injection as well as foliar spray.

Date Palm Diseases

Diseases in date palm may be either biotic or abiotic. Biotic diseases are caused by pathogens like fungi and bacteria and insects like Red

Palm Weevil and Fruit stalk borer etc. Both pathogens and insects are responsible for great damage to date palm in

Sindh. Abiotic diseases are caused by Physiological disorders such as, too low or too high temperature, lack or excess of soil moisture, lack or excess of light, lack of oxygen, air pollution, nutrient deficiencies, toxicities of

pesticides etc. Some palms show resistance to their biotic pathogens and to conditions which cause abiotic diseases but all date palms are susceptible to mismanagement of water, the extremes of

prun ing and poor planting practices.

Biotic Diseases

Biotic diseases are caused by pathogens and are usually fungal in etiology, and the most common fungal diseases of Date Palm in Sindh are:·

While the Red Palm Weevil or Indian Palm Weevil, Rhynchophorus ferrugineus is also damaging the date crop in Sindh. It peirce into the stem from the exposed soft tissues and reach to its crown and let it wither and die. Whereas

· Sudden decline of date palm (drying) in Sindh caused by soil borne

fungi Fusarium spp.

· Grapholia leaf spot caused by Grapholia phoenicis.

· Leaf spot of Date Palm caused by Mycosphaerella spp.

· Inflorescence rot of Date Palm caused by Mauginiella scaettae.

· Fruit rot of Date Palm caused by Aspergilus spp.

· Diplodia disease of date palm caused by Diplodia phoenicum

Lesser Date Moth (Batrachedra amydraula Meyrick) and Fruit Stalk Borer (Oryctes elegans Prell) are also causing a great damage to date palm in the region.

Abiotic Diseases

Abiotic diseases are caused by re-occurring environmental conditions that compromise the long-term growth and development of the palm. Some of them described by Zaid et al., (2002) are given below:

A crosscut is a physiological disorder of fruit stalks and fronds. Crosscuts or V-cuts are clean breaks in the tissues of the fruit stalk bases and on fronds. It consists of a slight to deep notch, similar to a cut artificially done by a knife. Fruits born on strands in line with the break wither and fail to mature properly. Crosscuts result from an

anatomical defect in the fruit stalks and fronds involving internal, sterile cavities leading to mechanical breaks during elongation of the stalk or the fronds.

Leaf Apical Drying

This is not a disease but a physiological reaction to transplantation of adult palms (injury of their root system). All palms with these symptoms recover within two to three years after their transplanting.

Frost Damage

When temperature falls below 0°C, it causes serious metabolic disorders with some injury to date palm leaves characterized by a partial or total desiccation. Water of protoplasma freezes after coming out from the cells. During defrost, water invaded inter-cellular spaces and affected leaves turn brown and desiccated. The severity of damage is related to the intensity and duration of frost. Frost injury to the date palm groves is not a direct loss of fruit on the palm but freezing produces loss of leaves so that the palm cannot support and mature the fruit crop following year.

The Post-harvest and Processing of Dates is an important section of DPRI. The work on these aspects of Dates is in full swing. One Research Associate has got Ph.D degree, who has been working on Post-harvest and Processing of Dates.

Date fruit is an important nutrious and energy giving food and is popular in all over the world and Pakistan as well. It is a staple food on world level and is used in the form of different products. It is also a good source of foreign exchange earnings. Date palm is playing an important role in the history of mankind ever since the birth of our planet. Date fruits being sweet and palatable are consumed as a stable diet for people of much date producing

Post-Harvest and Processing


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countries. The date palm is especially important to Pakistan, not only for its myriad uses but also as a national symbol.

The ripening season of date starts with the rise in summer temperature with peak production season during July-August. Unfortunately, the monsoon season also falls well within these months of the year. This is a real bottleneck for this crop. Coincidence of date ripening period with monsoon season. The crop receives heavy damages by rain. Further, the dates during this period are at eatable stage (Doka/Dung) and prone to infestation by insects and diseases that flourish at a rapid rate under favorable climate of relatively reduced temperature with high humidity.

Traditionally the fruits at the dung stage are ripened, cured and dried by keeping them spread on mats under the sun in open air. However, the product becomes highly contaminated and non-uniform with low yield and is very poor in quality. Moreover, some of the produce gets fermented on drying due to rainy and cloudy atmosphere persisting longer and the total losses may rise to as high as 50%. In order to avert such heavy losses resulting from the natural calamities and produce high quality product it is therefore, desired to explore ways and means to ripe/cure Aseel dates artificially.

The aim of this proposed study is therefore, to cure and ripen the date artificially utilizing all resources including scientific expertise and also to utilize the dropped as well as Doka fruits into valuable products. By adapting artificial and controlled curing and ripening procedures, a lot of the dates will be made available which will not only add to the existing food resources but those can also be exported to earn hard currency. Further, the flow of the ripened date to the market will easily be regularized thus avoiding fruit glutting and overcoming the problems arising out of price fluctuation. As a result, the growers and the country as a whole will be much benefited. Many experiments on accelerated ripening of Aseel fruit has been conducted in this season. Various methods of drying were also quantified to observe best method. A set of experiments on storage of Aseel fruit is also going on at the Institute.

An experiment was designed to study the effect of different temperatures and coating with vegetable oil on date's preservation. This study was carried out to preserve the fruit of Aseel variety. Collected dates after harvesting at Tamar stage were subjected to different preservation temperatures and coated with oil. The low temperature proved to be good to preserve Dates for longer time without infestation and quality change. Physical treatment of oil coat on dates has enhanced their storage life. Probably this coat is preventing the passage of bacteria and insects to the preserved dates. The oil coated dates looked very attractive, luster and in good color but seems not that much acceptable in the International market.

In another experiment sorting of dates from mats immediately after drying was made. It was observed that the dates sorted on mats immediate after drying showed minimum number of insect infestation then those sorted after four or five days. The maximum number of infested dates was found in late sorted dates. The late sorting provided the chance to insects to come in contact with the healthy dates and spoil them as well.

The crop production section is mainly working for the improvement of crop, quality and quantity of fruit and quality of Date Palm trees. A set of experiments is going on to increase production of Date Palm. Various experiments have been conducted on soil analysis, irrigation, fertilization and fruit thinning at the experimental date palm orchard of the University. The experiments regarding the studies on the effect of N.P.K fertilizer on the

Crop Production

quality and production of fruit are in progress. These experiments are conducted to determine the optimum level of inorganic fertilizers for best quality and yield of fruit.

The thinning of fruit is one of the processes of head tree service, which is done to increase the quality and quantity of fruit. Thinning process can help to solve date palm problems. It is reported that there are different methods of thinning varies from removing definite number of bunches or reducing the number of bunches to certain number, cutting back entire spikelets and/or removing the tips of strands before or after pollination. These methods vary from one variety to another. The predominant variety of Sindh "Aseel" was used in this study. The experiments were conducted on about 25 years old date palms (Phoenix dactylifera L.) of "Aseel" cultivar, grown in sandy clay loam soil at Experimental plot of the Institute at University. All palms were planted at 7x7 m apart. The 48 experimental trees were healthy, as uniform as possible in growth and vigor and were subjected to the same cultural practices commonly used in the orchard. The selected palms were pruned to leave the same number of functional leaves (85 leaves/palm). The number of bunches/palm was reduced to 13, 16, and 19. Number (no.) of bunches, no. of spikes and the spike's length were reduced manually after 6 weeks of pollination. The fertilizer application and weekly irrigation was also given to all the date palms of this experiment as usual practice. For fertilizer application, soil was also analyzed to check the soil properties and its nutritional status during the experiment. Irrigation water used for date palm orchard was also analyzed. At picking time, all bunches from treated trees were harvested when the color was developed. Total yield per palm in kgs was recorded and the average bunch weight was calculated.

The experimental design was Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) consisted of 16 treatments and each treatment included 3 replications. Thus, 48 date palms were used for 16 different combinations.

Biggest fruit size plays an important role in dates marketing and gives highest prices at the end of the season. Moreover, highest yield not enough only to give highest income from the date palm tree. For this purpose this experiment compared between 16 different traditional manual fruit thinning to improve the quality with plausible fruit yield.

Data showed significant variation among different treatments of fruit thinning. Also, data recorded the effect of manual thinning on increasing the fruit quality without big drop in the total fruit yield. The findings suggested that reducing the number of bunches on the date palm tree in between 16-19 bunches/palm and removal of fourth spikes number increased the yield and quality of harvested fruits of Aseel cv. compared to number of bunches less or more than this range. The chemical thinning experiments have also been conducted in present crop season.

One scholar is working on this area for M.Phil degree. A research paper on thFruit Thinning was also presented by Dr. Markhand in the 105 Annual

Conference organized by American Society of Horticulture Science (ASHS) from 21-24 July 2008 at Orlando, Florida, USA.

Modern &Rapid methodsfor makinggood qualityof dates.


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Biochemical Studies

Evaluation of Date Palm Varieties

Research Library

This section is working on the Chemical and Biochemical analysis of different varieties of dates. Several experiments have been conducted for the Biochemical studies of the elite varieties of Pakistan. A comprehensive study is underway to determine chemical constituents, various nutrients and energy value of elite local varieties and their comparison with world famous varieties of Date Palm. The concerned research scholar is working in this section for M.Phil degree.

The fruit of three famous varieties of dates i.e. Aseel, Fasli and Karbalain was chemically analyzed to observe the effect of bunch covering from monsoon rain. In this experiment, the physical properties of fruit like color, size, weight and taste and chemical properties such as moisture contents, ash, total sugar, reducing sugar, non reducing sugar, individual sugar, pH, fat, protein, vitamins, titrateable acidity and minerals were studied.

Another experiment was conducted on the comparative study of sun and dehydrator dried dates of Aseel. The experiment was started in the peak of the harvest season. One sample was dehydrated in the solar dehydrator at DPRI and the second sample was dried under the sun on the mats. The experiment was conducted to observe the nutritional difference between the two samples. The chemical properties of fruit were determined by the Spectrophotometer and the mineral composition of the samples was determined by the Atomic Absorption.

In the current year, a comparative study on the effect of different fungicides on the chemical and biochemical composition of fruit of predominant variety of this area "Aseel" was conducted. Three different types of fungicides i.e. Bavistin, Copper Oxychloride and Mancozeb were selected for use in this experiment. Each fungicide was sprayed on three trees before the harvest season and the data was recorded after collecting samples on full maturation stage of dates in the peak of harvest season. In second experiment, the effect of fungicides on the metabolic changes during different stages of maturation was determined. The fungicides were applied on the different stages of date fruit development like Kimri, Khalal, Rutab and Tamar.

The fruit of nine different varieties of Baluchistan which are growing in the nursery of Institute was collected on their full maturation stage and brought in the Biochemical lab of DPRI for characterization and biochemical analysis.

The characterization of 85 varieties collected from different date palm orchards was made on the basis of the morphological characters of fruit at DPRI. This research paper was presented in Date Palm Symposium held at Saudi Arabia in 2007.

DPRI Research Library with internet services was established with the stock of more than 300 books regarding different aspects of Date Palm, Banana, Pineapple, Biotechnology, Genetics, Ornamentals etc. This library provides researchers latest information with background and provide them every facility to conduct research on the subject. HEC digital library facility is also utilized here.

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Date palm (Phonix dactylifera L.) crop in district Khairpur, the largest date fruit producer in Sindh, is coming in trouble after every two or three years, by monsoonic rain, during the months of July and August causing a heavy damage to the maturing crop. The harvested fruit is

likely to be spoiled by rain, dust and sand while being dried in the sun.

A successful attempt was made to protect the crop by covering the fruit bunches with suitable covers and the harvested fruit at Rutab stage was dried under the solar dehydrator as an alternative to open sun drying method which could also be threatened by monsoonic rain. The ripened fruit, when dried in the open sun an artificial method by folding the mats daily, saves the fruit from dust, sand and dew to which the colour and quality of the fruit is improved.

Protection of Date Palm from Monsoonic RainsA.Q Mahar & A.R Malik


Introduction

The date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) locally known as Khaji or Khajoor is one of the man-kind's

1oldest fruit cultivated on this globle.

The date palm is the member of family Palmaceae monocotyledonous and ever green. Dates constitute as important

2item of diet in certain areas like the bread and Potato in Europe.

Dates contain proteins, fats, minerals, salts, carbohydrates, sugar and vitamins 3,4

etc.

All the parts of the date palm other than fruit are also important as it provides shade and wind break for crops; its trunk is used for timber and house building, its leaflets are used for preparation of mats, fans and baskets.

Problems arise during the year when an occasional monsoon rain extends into the Indus valley during the months of July and August causing a heavy

5 4damage to the maturing crop. Ismaili and Mahar et. al. reported that most of the micro organisms attack on the ripening fruit of dates and cause infection. In rainy season fungi and bacteria are produced and attack the ripening fruit bunches, resulting loss to the growers. The harvested fruit is likely to be spoiled by rain while drying in the open sun. Lot of the fruit is spoiled during

2the harvesting season due to rain and storms.6Rashid and Ali reported that curing of dates which consists of picking the

fruit at Doka or Dung stage and spreading it on mates till cured, can not be very successful in the rain affected areas. They further reported that the fruit in such cases is subjected not only to unhygienic conditions of dirt or dust etc. but is spoiled by mould bacteria and yeast fermentation. Therefore an alternate method of drying is to be explored. This paper furnishes the results of covering the fruit bunches, artificial drying and folding the grass mats in 86

Date Cropof Khairpur

sun light and shelter the harvested fruit. The purpose of the present study is to obtain some information about the best protection of maturing fruit from rain, sand and dew, and to prepare the dates fruit in shorter time.

Three date palm plants of Aseel variety were choosen for the purpose of study.

Location

The study site was located in village Shah Ladhani and situated at the distance of 1 Km in south of River Indus, tehsil and district Khairpur.

The date palm plants on which studies were carried out were medium sized in height and each plant bearing 20-24 fruit bunches.

Climate

The climate of the Khairpur is different in different four seasons. In winter season temperature comes down up to 12°C and in summer the temperature goes upto 50°C whereas room temperature in summer was recorded at 36°C.

7Smead reported that Khairpur district is surrounded by semi desert and has a very hot climate, with cover 7,000 heat units, the temperature remaining hot day and night during the ripening season of dates fruit with a mean maximum of 109°C and a mean minimum of 83°C in June. Smead further reported that dates must be suncured due to high humidity.

After every few years a monsoon rain sweeps across this usually hot dry area of Sindh province and spoils the crop at the critical ripening stage.

Material and Method


Date Stages8

Mannan distinguished four stages o dates such as;

i) Khimri: the green stage.

ii) Khalal: which include development in size and change in colour to red/ yellow.

iii) Rutab stage: Characterized by a darkening of the colour to brown or black and by squashy texture and loose skin.

iv) Tamar stage: The dates of low moisture contents and considered over ripe stage.

Whereas in Sindh province these stages are named as (I) Khasi or Kachi (ii) Doka (iii) Dung (iv) Khark.

Harvesting

The ripened fruit bunches were removed with the help of a saw or small axe. The climber of the date palm tree cut the whole bunch from the stalk and lowered to the ground by means of an string thick rope, locally known as 'Werho'. The dokas were then removed from the bunches and carried out in the laboratory for experimental purpose.

Covering the fruit bunches

The mats prepared from leaflets of date palm are normally used for covering the bunches. In our previous paper "bitumenized" paper was used for the covering the bunches but in present study mats were used because these are very cheap and locally made. They are also used for drying the date fruit by spreading them on the ground by locals.

The mats sheets were wraped around the bunches but left open below, and one bunch was left uncovered in each plants as control. The covers were applied when dates had reached at 'Khalal' or Doka stage. The fruit bunches were allowed to remain wraped with mat sheets for 20 days from 20th July to 07th August. Then bunches were harvested and carried out in the laboratory for further experimental purpose.

Khimri/Kachi

Khalal/Doka

Rutab/Dung

Tamar/Khark

Date Stages

Harvested bunch being lowered to the ground with the help of rope.

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Drying of fruit in Solar dehydrator

For immediate drying the harvested fruit at Khalal/Doka stage were placed in Solar dehydrator. The Dokas were spread in nine dishes and each dish contain 5 to 6 kgs. Each dish possesses net as the dokas received more temperature not only from the upper surface but also from the lower surface. All the fruit dishes were then placed in Solar dehydrator separately. The dried dates under solar dehydrator were stored in wooden boxes. The rest of the harvested dokas were spread on mats in open sun light. The temperature outside and inside the Solar dehydrator was recorded.

Folding of Mats

The harvested Dokas were spread on the mats in open sun light. Some mats were remained opened during day and night and some date mats were folded at evening time daily and reopened on next day in order to save them

Semi-driedDates areusually coveredwith matesto protect them from dew or rains.


from dust & dew. The dates folded and unfolded mats after dried were carried out in the laboratory and stored in the wooden boxes.

Preparation of Chuhara

The full mature bunches of the dokas of Aseel variety were removed from the parent plants and the dokas were then separated from bunches by means of hand or wooden rake and then the dokas were placed in open baskets and

brought in the laboratory. The dokas were placed in a big sauce pan containing boiled water and were soaked for twenty to twenty five minutes. The boiled dokas were taken out from the sauce pan buy means of iron or wooden strainer. The boiled dokas were placed in solar dehydrator as well as on mats open sun light for drying purpose.

Curing of the Dates

The dates of Aseel variety dried under solar dehydrator and dried in open sun light were cleaned with a moist and then with dry piece of cloth and then air dried. The dates of same variety dried in solar dehydrator and in open sun light were not cleaned with a piece of cloth. Both the samples, cleaned and uncleared were enclosed in polythene bags and stored in the laboratory.

In the fruiting season there was no rain fall and therefore dates fruit were not damaged. The attack of microorganisms was observed very little and the less infected dokas were seen inside the bunches.

1. Covering the fruit bunches

After the experimental time of 20 days all the mat covers were removed and bunches were harvested. It was observed that two uncovered bunches (control bunches) were ripened earlier than the covered bunches. Inside the covered bunches, comparatively lower temperature was the cause of the slower ripening.

Results

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The temperature recorded inside the open bunches was higher than inside the covered bunches. Whereas the temperature recorded outside the open bunches was higher than inside the open bunches.

2. Drying in Solar dehydrator

The glass covered solar dehydrator dried the doka within few days than those dried in open sun light and that is the first advantage of solar dehydrator. The second advantage is that the solar dehydrator protects the dates from rain - dust and dew. The dates dried in open sun light on mats were damaged by

3rain water dust particles and dew. Ahmed and Farooqi reported that spreading of mature dates fruit on mat for sun drying, the fruit is infested with dust particles and insect pests. Hence the obtained dates from Solar dehydrator are good in colour and test and the marketing value is increased.

It was observed that the temperature recorded in side the Solar dehydrator was higher than out side the Solar dehydrator. Thus comparatively a higher temperature in side the Solar dehydrator was the cause of quicker ripening.

The temperature presented in table No.2 showed that in side the Solar dehydrator it was 10 to 15 higher than that of atmospheric. Therefore it can be concluded that the higher temperature may be the responsible for quicker ripening of dates in side the Solar dehydrator.


3. Folding of Mats

The Dates placed on mats and dried in open sun light and their mats were opened for 24 hours were found not in good condition i.e. in colour and taste. Due to the dew at night the skin of the dates looses and air is occupied in the space between skin and mesocarp. On the other hand dust and dirt were found on surface of the dates, thus the Market value of the date becomes comparatively low. Whereas the dates dried in open sun light and obtained from those mats which were folded daily in the evening and reopened on next morning were found free from the dust, dirt and insects. The dates were seen smooth, and were observed very good from many respects, as shining in colour, taste, texture & smoothness and thus the market value is also high.

4. Preparation of Chuhara

The Chuhara dried in Solar dehydrator took shorter time than those dried in open sun light. The Chuhara dried in Solar dehydrator were found better in colour and taste because solar dehydrator protects the fruit from dust and insect, and Chuhara were dried properly.

It was observed that before placing the dokas at 'Khalal' stages in a big sauce pan, the water should be boiled first. It has been noted that the dokas were soaked for 20-25 minutes in boiling water for the preparation of Chuhara the time depends upon the heat provided to the sauce pan. In this experiment, it was observed that, the dokas were not boiled more time because in more boiling the dokas loose their skin, and due to this the market rate of Chuhara is lowered. The date palm growers are advised through this paper that they should boil the dokas with care and keep proper time of boiling other wise their Chuhara will become skinless and thus the growers will take a great loss.

5. Curing of dates

The dates dried in Solar dehydrator, some quantity was cleaned with moist piece of cloth and then with dry piece of cloth and packed in polythene plastic bags.

After passing six months the dates prepared under Solar dehydrator both cleaned and uncleaned were seen free insect infestation.

The dates dried in open sun light and cleaned were seen free from infest and insects. The same dates dried in open sun light and were not cleaned after passing six months the insect infestation were found.

However, it was observed that the dates dried in open sun light on grass mats and uncleaned these were not only damaged by dust, dirt and dew but on some fruits butterfly laid their eggs and after some time larvae appeared and penetrated inside the fruit which was ultimately damaged. The insects were not seen in uncleaned dates dried under Solar dehydrator because the Solar dehydrator is the glass covered shelf and it protects the fruit from dust, dirt, dew and butterflies.

The date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) is one of the most ancient fruit tree 9used by human being. Records of its culture date back nearly 5,000 years. Our

previous study reveal that no damage was done to the bunches of dates 4which were carefully covered with bitumenized paper.

Discussion

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In the present study mats were used and found very effective against the attack of birds and rain. The special wet 'strength' paper, 'kraft' paper, mats prepared from the date palm leaves and Polythene sheets have been tried in protecting

10the fruit. From the above covers polythene plastic sheets were found not suitable because evaporated water produce moisture and accumulated inside the plastic and bunches and thus insect as Beatles and Bugs were produced and within few days the dokas from the bunches fall on the ground. However the plastic sheets are water proof could be used against the rain but these can be used only for the rainy time and after the rainfall the sheets be removed from the bunches otherwise moisture will be produced.

Inspite of plastic, the bitumenized paper was found effective against the rain 4and birds damage. In our present study the mats were found most effective

against the rain & sun burns, the temperature remains constant and the air passed through the mats easily from sides. The use of the mats is coming from years by our growers, and were found very suitable for protecting the fruit. The use of the mats as very easy and cheap because mats are locally

10produced. Ahmed and Shaikh reported that 'Kraft' paper is suitable for protecting the fruit against the rain, but it has some defects as without ventilation the accumulation of heat results the shriveling of the dates. In the present study some evidences were recorded that the bunches should be wraped with covers very tightly because due to strong wind some loosely wraped covers were opened and rain water enters in side the bunches and the fruit bunches were damaged.

5Ismaili et. al. reported that the dates are susceptible to fungal disease at Khalal or Rutab stage specially at the time of rain fall or in the presence of moisturized weather on account of the microbial contamination of this carbohydrate rich fruit.

However, in first process it was found that enveloping the dates bunches in bitumenized paper or mat not only provide protection from rain, birds, sun burns and wind but also help to prevent injuries to fruit, results from rubbing the fruit against the strong wind and reducing the quality of the dates fruit.

It was observed that the covers of heavy paper as the cover of bitumenized paper or mat sheets keeps the temperature more constant.

In the second experiment of the present study, the harvested fruit dried under the Solar dehydrator, and the fruit not only saved from the dust, humidity and rain but dried the dates within shorter time.

Fully mature or ripe fruit contains abundant juice but low amounts of sugar, such fruit is liable to be spoiled during sun drying, this kind of fruit require care during curing and processing as sun drying may not be very successful in

6this case. They further reported that the fruit has to be cured and dried in as short period as possible in order to keep these from spoilage.

In rainy season and without rainy season the use off Solar dehydrator is very useful in this regard, because on one hand it dried the dates within short time and on the other hand it saved the fruit from spoilage. The growers of the palm are suggested that they should use glass covered shelf (Solar dehydrator) because during the rainy season the atmospheric humidity is high and the conditions are favourable for moulding, souring and spoilage the date fruit on or off the tree.

It has been seen at various places of District Khairpur that the date palm growers placed the dokas on plastic sheets for drying purpose in open sun light. The growers are suggested through this paper that they should dry their 93


date fruit grass mat as the grass mat sheets are not water proof, the rainy water passes through the grass mat sheets easily and within seconds the water enters in side the soil, whereas the plastic sheets are proof and thus rainy water does not pass through the sheets. Hence the use of the grass mats or date palm leaflet mats are very beneficial for the growers.

The date palm growers are suggested that when they

dried the dates in open sun light, they must fold mats properly at the night and reopen in the morning, due to this they would obtain the fruit better in colour, quality and taste. This method of drying the dates is very important for economic point of view.

We are very thankful to Pakistan Council of Appropriate Technology, Islamabad for providing Solar dehydrator and financial support for this research work.

References

1. Hassan, AR, Shaikh, M. Panhwar, K.N. Date Palm Cultivation in Sindh Modern Agriculture, 28-29 (1992).

2. Khan, M. and Shah, M. Effect of chemical treatments on the composition of Date ultivars. Sarhad J. Agric. Vol.4, No.4, 435-442 (1988).

3. Ahmed, S., and Farooqui, W.A. Studies on some distinguishing characters of Iraqui dates at Jhang. P.B. Frt, J. (Date palm No. 33 (4): 136-147 (1972).

4. Mahar, A.Q. Malik, A.R. and bhatti N.M. Production of Date Palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) from Monsoonic rain in District Khairpur, Sindh. Pakistan (1994).

5. Ismaili, N.J., Saleh, M. Zardari, M. and Soomro, I.H. Fungi Occuring on date (Phoenix dactylifera L.) Fruit during rainy season in Khairpur district, Sindh. Pakistan, Sci, Khyber, 4 (2) 111-118 (1991).

6. Rashid, A. and Ali, A. The Date in west Pakistan Pb, Frt, J. (Date Palm No) 33(4), 68-84 (1970).

7. Smead, P.F, Faq, U.N. and Choudhri, M.R. Dates in West Pakistan Pb. Frt, J. (33), 25-46 (1972).

8. Mannan Fazli compositional changes of Date Dhaki variety a various stages of grown in D.W.F.P. Pakistan J. Sci. Tech Univ. Peshawar 37-40 (1993).

9. Barrett, H.C. Evolution of Date cultivars for Dessert quality. Modern Agriculture, Tandojam 30-32 (1992).

10. Ahmed, S. and Sheikh, H.M. Date Industry in Khairpur division, P.B. Frt, J. (Date Palm No.) 33(4) 91-92 (1972).

(Courtesy: Scientific Sindh, Annual Journal of Research, Vol. 5, SALU, Khairpur, 1998)

Acknowledgment

Protection ofdates from

monsoon rainwith

Bitumen paper.

94Date Crop

of Khairpur

The date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) is a dioecious, perennial monocotyledonous plant species belonging to the family Arecaceae. It is one of the oldest fruit tree crops and is primarily cultivated in North African and Middle Eastern countries. Flowers are borne on stalks

growing among the leaves. The date palm has compound, branched flower stalks (inflorescences) bearing small whitish or creamy flowers.

Inflorescence-based micropropagation holds great potential for the multiplication of recalcitrant male and female date palm individual trees and cultivars of commercial interests with limited populations. This can be accomplished in a short time with minimal effort as compared to the traditional practice of using shoot-tip explants. The aim of this technique is to pave the way to use inflorescence explants to micropropagate date palm by direct formation of organs (somatic embryos or shoots) and avoiding most of the constraints that face the shoot tip.

Traditionally, shoot tip explants from offshoots are used for various micropropagation protocols for both research and commercial production purposes. The major disadvantage of this practice is scarification of the entire offshoot. Ultimately, this will hinder the micropropagation of superior individuals without offshoots or of commercially viable cultivars with limited numbers of available individual specimens.

Micropropagation of Date Palm by Inflorescence ExplantsAdel Ahmed Abul-Soad

A Date scientistat work.


Inflorescence explants have proven promising and afford a needed alternative explant source for micropropagation of elite cultivars and rare individuals of date palm. We describe here a stepwise micropropagation procedure using inflorescence explants and compare their benefits with the use of shoot-tip explants;

innovative ways to safely excise an immature inflorescence from an adult tree at the appropriate time; establishment of the initial explants on a starting medium after surface sterilization of the spathe; other details on rooting, hardening and field performance in fruiting.

· Micropropagation of recalcitrant cultivars, especially those existing in limited numbers or rare individual female lines, facilitate large scale production of plants for commercial uses; including some elite cultivars without any or with very few offshoots. No method is known to reproduce such cultivars and lines except through inflorescence explants.

· Micropropagation of highly-selected and extremely-useful male lines can be achieved. Fruit quality properties such as size, color and sugar content are dependant mainly on the pollen grain source (the metaxenia phenomenon). This means that not all heterozygous males are equal in their impact on fruit quality. There have been many studies and evaluation programs to select ideal male trees. These studies are without potential if there are no offshoots on the tree, i.e. no source for further propagation. The inflorescence technique is the only way currently available to reproduce such vigorous males.

· Micropropagation of cultivars resistant to epidemic diseases such as bayoud (Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. albdinis) and pests like the red palm weevil (Rhynchophorus ferrugineus F.). There are a few cultivars and lines exhibiting natural resistance to these maladies, but the trees typically produce no offshoots. It is reported that well-acclimatized plants derived from inflorescences of INRA-J19 and INRA-A6 clones were tested against bayoud disease.

(Adel Ahmed Abul-Soad is currently Consultant to DPRI, Khairpur, Sindh, Pakistan. Basically from 9 Cairo Univ. St., Orman, Horticulture Research Institute, Agricultural Research Center, Cairo, Egypt. [email protected])

Benefits of Using Inflorescence Explants And Related To In Vivo Open-Field Characters

Dr. Adel briefingChief Minister,

Sindh,Syed Qaim

Ali Shah. Dr. Neelofar

Shaikh is also seen.

96Date Crop

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Khairpur and Sukkur region constitutes a lush green Date Palm zone consisting very organized orchards spreading over tens and thousands of acres with lac sof Date Palm trees. Particularly the lengthy dateline

along the shoulders of the main National Highway from Tando Masti to Babarloe adds scenic beauty of the district and by and large maintains echo system. The area is famous for producing varied varieties Dates, which take different shape and name after process. However, Chuhara or the Dehydrated Date manufactured in and around the periphery of Khairpur Date region enjoys international recognition and India remains its largest importer.

Chuhara manufacturing oftenly start as a remedy to escape from crop damage in the wake of looming monsoonic rains that usually hit the area during the ripening span of the crop (June and July).

Aseel Date variety, which is preferably used by the local farmers in Chuhara manufacture is a popular trend continuing since many decades.

Date harvesting usually begin in an atmosphere of haste and hassle, because of various reasons: majority of the Date zamindars thrive on loans offered by the Artis or the brokers of the local Mandi and the entire Date region of Khairpur is running without proper cold storage system, where upon the harvested crop can be preserved until the rain season go off or it can be utilised for other purpose other than Chuhara making. As a last resort effort, hundreds of the big or small zamindars carry out harvesting some time beyond their capacity.

DehydratingJuicy Dates


By the first half of the June, a large number of artisans belonging to different parts of the province arrive in groups along with their families & small children and establish their tents under the open sky and carry out preparing things required for harvesting, transporting and drying of the Dates. Artisans meant for preparing mats of wild bushes most oftenly find abode within the orchards and prepare the stuff according to the need and demand of zamindars. While the artisans adept in knitting wooden baskets of different sizes find room along the highways and open places ignoring sizzling heat and sanitary issues. They work collectively and regardless of any gender bias or age factor. While at work they hardly make recess for meal. Female workers are considered more skillful and more labourious. They go to sleep early in the evening and awake before dawn. Their small children roam around within the premises of their huts an sometime they also don’t hesitate to play on busy highways causing threat to their lives. Each family setup small size hamlets, under which they spend their whole two months. During the day time they use it as work place while after sunset they climb to their roofs and spend nights. Besides braving scorching heat and mosquito bites, each family usually had a target and capacity of preparing as many as 100 baskets of different size in a day. The price of a basket also varies and an standard size piece usually fetches Rs. 80 to Rs. 100.

The carpenters as well as the iron smiths of

Therrhi also do thriving business before the arrival

of the Date harvesting season. All the wooden implements used during the dehydration process are prepared in large quantity and sold in large number too. While the iron smiths prepare boiling pans of different sizes and earn

money to their heart's content.

With its increase in the demand by the foreign countries, where it is mainly consumed in socio-religious rituals, Chuhara

manufacturing is a very labour some and time consuming task.

All the possible means of transportation of the harvested crop are applied to ensure its delivery at the nearby or far away dehydrating units. However, transportation of the harvested crop through tractor

trollies is considered to be the most quick and swift method. During the course of manual harvesting to the transportation, a small quantity of the produce also go in waste.

The ‘Jali’ or Date Filter, it is used duringthe course ofDate boilingprocess.

The woodenDate bunchsorter, it is fixedin the ground at least two feetdeep and twoworkers are usuallyengaged in bunchsorting. It costsRs. 300 approx.


98Date Crop

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Sometimes and at some places donkey carts are also used for pushing the produce upto the unit.

Quite earlier to the mass harvesting of Date Crop, thorns are meticulously removed from the long branches enabling the ‘Charrhas’ or climbers to harvest fruit without hindrance and with as much speed as possible. Avoiding sun strokes and other fatal accidents, from 5:30 am to 8:00 am usually remains the best choice for harvesting by all & sundry. Harvested fruit lying under the trees is carefully collected and loaded on the tractor trollies or the other sources of transportation by the labourers and is fetched at a nearby Date dehydrating unit.

An skillful ‘Charrha’ or climber takes five to seven minutes to cut the bunches & slide them to the ground with the help of an strong rope fixed around his waist. Bunch cutting takes place with the help of a small size & shape axe with small wooden handle.

Following the Date harvesting season, which begins in the late June, Khairpur's Date industry usually thronged by more than one lac labourers and artisans, who invest their energies day & night for more than couple of months until the whole process comes to an end. Thousands of labourers of all ages easily find job in one or the other orchard. The nature of job ranges from climbing to collecting the bunches, sorting, loading, transporting, washing, boiling, spreading, cleansing and finally bringing the whole produce packed

A worker at work boilingthe Dates & hence turning them into Chuhara.

A heap of sorted Dates.


100Date Crop

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in sacks up to the market. Their wages also vary. A common worker usually gets Rs. 170 to 180 while the boiler who works on the oven from dawn to dusk gets double wage as compared to others. From three time meal to necessary medical assistance combined with boarding expenses usually borne by the zamindar. Their accommodation arrangement is generally made besides the vast ground spread with semi dried Dates. According to Hafiz Abdul Haleem, a famous Date grower of Therhi, that a common Date worker usually consumes 1½ to 2 kilograms of raw and un cleaned Dates per day, during the course of work.

During the two month long Date dehydration process as many as 500 big or small dehydrating ovens are established within the Date orchards, which

A worker spreading dehydrated Datesat Therrhi Date Farm.

A worker fetching dehydrated & hotDates at a field.

create abandoned employment opportunities for thousands of labourers, belonging to different parts of Punjab and Balochistan besides the local manpower. Each tractor trolley can fetch the produce of as many as 30 Date Palm trees. Following the arrival of a fruit loaded trolley at a dehydrating oven, it is downloaded in a matter of 2 hours, while few labourers simultaneously are engaged detaching the fruit from the bunches. Detaching or sorting of a trolley load fruit takes about 4 to 5 hours by not more than four workers. Side by side some other workers are engaged in cleansing the fruit and finally put into a big size and specially designed steel pan containing boiled water. At one time at least 3 mounds fruit is dehydrated and the boiling process takes at least 15 minutes. For the sake of better color to the dehydrated fruit a quantity of a chemical named Sodium Formaldehyde


102Date Crop

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Sulphoxylate is added during the boiling process. A container of the chemical costs Rs. 10,000 to Rs. 12,000. Boiling takes place manually and usually the timber got out of the Date orchards during its thinning and dwarfing process

is used in it. The boiling process could have been made swift and smart through the gas, which is unfortunately not available in the whole region. Following the boiling of the fruit, it is usually put into the baskets made of wooden twigs of lawa tree and kept besides the oven for some time until the boiled Dates get dried & the boiled water poured out of it. The workers transport the boiled stuff to the open field on their shoulders and spread them on mats until seven days.

Some womenworkers

at work in a Date processing

factory in Therrhi.

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Cooking & Dinning with DatesDates have been a favourite food and fruit of the areas of the world

where it is produced or planted. The history of the Date Crop is believe to be as old as the human race itself and it dates back to 6000 BC.

However, some scientists have succeeded in deciphering its original date from the archaeological reports, which authenticate its cultivation in the Eastern Arabia sometimes in 4000 BC. Later on, Date cultivation took a mushroom growth in the Spain and some parts of Africa.

Some facts about the Date and its nutritional significance

Why Dates are important for human health and what is its nutritional significance? Indeed a lot! Here we introduce some delicious dishes made out of this paradise fruit and which are certainly best for human health. Some Botanists say that the Dates are the fruits grown on the top of the palm tree belonging to the group of Arecaceae of the genus: Phoenix dactylifera.

According to history, lands irrigated on the waters of Nile and Euphrates rivers were rich with variety of Date Palms and the human life around them was the most beneficiary of the fruit. The Date fruit is a 'drupe' with fleshy part that surrounds a shell with a seed inside. The fruit varies in shape as well as weight and the size. Some are oval in shape while the others are cylindrical, with 3-7 cm long, and 2-3 cm diameter. The unripe fruit also varies in color from bright red to bright yellow, but they depends on the variety.

Above all, their taste remains as sweet as sugar and honey. All they contain a 2-2.5 cm long and 6-8 mm thick brown colored hard seed. 105


Miracles of Dates

Date Fruit consumption has been Ÿdescribed by many divine books as most essential for human being. For the normal human growth and overall physical development and healthy living, Date fruit, which contains required quantity of nutrients, vitamins and minerals is must for everyone.

Date Fruit is abundantly rich in Ÿ

lso protective against colon, lung, endometrial, prostate, breast and pancreatic malignancies.

Fresh Date fruit is usually soft and Ÿeasily digestible with simple sugars which revitalizes the human body instantly. Dates are usually used during breakfast and are compulsorily used during the holy month of Ramadan in the Islamic world.

They are better source of vitamins, which protects from lung and oral Ÿcavity malignancy.

Date Fruit is Ÿ

ive relieve to the age related muscular degeneration in the advanced age individuals.

dietary fiber, which prevents the cause of LDL cholesterol. It is also a laxative diet preventing constipation. The fiber contents protect colon mucous membrane and hence decreasing the chances of cancer causing chemicals in the colon.

Date Fruit is rich with health Ÿbenefiting contents like phytonutrients flavonoid polyphenolic antioxidants famous as tannins. Tannins are believed to have anti- infective, anti-hemorrhagic and anti-inflammatory properties.

Date Fruit is also abundantly rich in Ÿantioxidant flavonoids like beta-carotene, zeaxanthin and lutein. These antioxidants have the capability to help in safeguarding cells and other phenomenal changes in human body from oxygen free radicals and are a

a super source of iron, containing 0.9 mg/100 g of fruits (about 11% of RDI). Iron is a component of hemoglobin inside the RBCs, which determines the capacity of oxygen in the blood.

Zeaxanthin is an a important dietary carotenoid absorbed into the Ÿophthlomological macula lutea, where it is believe to give antioxidant and protective light-filtering functions and thus g106


Dates are also rich in potassium, which is again an important component Ÿof cell and body fluids that prevents heart ailments and hypertension.

It is also abundantly rich in minerals: copper, calcium, manganese and Ÿmagnesium. Calcium is essential for bone and teeth growth. It is essential for human body for muscle contraction, blood thickening and nerve impulse conduction. Magnesium is important for bone development. Copper produces RBCs. Manganese is used by the human body for antioxidant enzyme superoxide dismutase.

The Date Fruit is highly rich in vitamins B and K. It contents a huge Ÿquantity of vitamin B-6, pantothenic acid, riboflavin and niacin. These vitamins act as cofactors helping the human body to metabolise proteins, fats and carbohydrates. While the vitamin K is required to human body for many coagulant reasons in the blood as well as in bone metabolism.

Date Fruit is usually in the market round the year. Some popular varieties of soft and fresh Dates remain available right from the harvesting season, which usually takes place in July to September. Like some African countries, there are number of places in Sindh and the parts where Date Palm is grown, a variety of Date Fruit is ripened inside the jar, which is mixed with salt. The fruit is called 'Loonathi Kharak' or 'Saltish Dates'.

In the stores, soft and semi-dry Date Fruits are put on the sale. Dry Dates can be preserved in the stores for several months at a required room temperature.

Some high quality Date Fruit is usually plucked directly from the bunches and is use for commercial purpose. Most of the varieties are harvested on large scale and the painstaking process of fumigation, grading, cleansing, sorting, packing and refrigeration takes place and finally released to the markets according to their demand.

Some ways to serve Dates:

Dried Dates are eaten out of hand.ŸThe seed from the dry and soft Dates is manually driven out and it is Ÿreplaced with dried fruits like almonds, walnuts, pistachio etc.

Date Fruit is also usable as salad on dining tables.ŸJuices and syrups of premium quality are also made out of Date Fruit, Ÿsuch as grape molasses and rose water, which is popular drink in the Middle East.

Date preservation and consumption

Date service: Some ways


107

Date Firni is a typical and favourite Indo-Pak sweet dish, which comprises Date Fruit, rice and the required quantity of milk. The details of the Firni recipe is as below:

INGREDIENTS:

· 1kg milk

· 250 grams fresh Dates

· 1/2 tin condensed milk

· 1 cup sugar

· 1/2 cup rice flour

· 1 tea spoon coconut powder

· 2 drops vanilla essence

· 1 tea spoon poppy seeds

· Nuts for garnishin

Methodology:

Dates without seeds are mashed in the blender and may be kept aside. Keep a pan on a low flame, mix milk, condensed milk and sugar and cook. In another bowl, mix rice flour in half a cup of milk to make a smooth paste.

When the milk starts boiling add the rice mixture in it, stir continuously so that the mixture does not stick to the pan. Add the mashed dates and saute on low temperature till it reaches the consistency of halwa. Transfer it in a bowl and garnish with poppy seeds and nuts.

g

Date Firni

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Date Pudding is a very tasty and a delicious dessert. It is provides energy to the young and the old alike. It is usually prepared during the month of Ramadan by majority of the Muslim families.

Ingredients:

· 250 gms dates, not too hard or too soft

· 2 table spoons cashew nuts, roughly chopped

· 2 table spoons pistachios, roughly chopped

· 2 table spoons honey

· 1 table spoon icing sugar

Methodology:

Cut the Date Fruit in equal halves. Remove the seed to be replaced with filing. Mix cashew nuts, pistachios, honey and icing sugar in a pot. Fill the stuff in the centre of the Date Fruit. Arrange in a tray and chill it in the refrigerator for some time before shifting it on a dining table.

Dates Pudding

Date Laddos

Ingredients:

· 1/2 kg fresh dates· 1/2 cup milk· 1 tea spoon honey· 1 tea spoon butter

melted· 1 cup coconut

powder· 1/2 cup almond

roughly chopped

Methodology:Deseeded dates are mashed and added with milk, honey and butter. Make balls of either shape oval or round. Sprinkle them with coconut and almond powders. Arrange them in a tray and refrigerate them for sometime before shifting to dinning table. While making round balls (laddos) a tooth pick is usually fixed in the center for easy pick. This dish does not require cooking.


Chutnies are an important item of Indo-Pak dinning tables. They are not only used with snacks, but they are also used with regular meals. Usually, Chutnies are spicy and sour but there are certain means to make them sweet as well. Without Chutney, Pakistani meals are considered incomplete and insufficient. They vary in number and taste. They are generally made out of fresh fruit of different kinds and some of the best use chutnies are as below: mango chutney, hari chutney, mint chutney, date chutney or pineapple chutney. These chutnies can be served on dinning table with Kababs, French Fries, Fish Finger, Biryani, Pulao etc. The recipe of Date Chutney is as under:

Ingredients:

· Dates 10 pieces (whole)· Tamarind 100 Gm· Sugar 1/2 cup· Salt 1/4 tea spoon· Red Chili 1/4 tea spoon

Methodology:

Soak the date pieces (whole) and tamarind in warm water. Remove away excess water when dates and tamarind are tendered and softened. Add the pulp to a cooking pot and also add sugar, salt and red chili and let it cook. When the mixture thickens, take off the flame and let it cool. Add to a container and refrigerate it to enhance its taste. And here Date Chutney is ready for consumption.

Date Chutney

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Ingredients:

· Dates 1 cup· Fried figs 1 cup· Butter 1/4 cup· Baking Soda 1/2 tea spoon· Boil water 1 cup· Sugar 1/2 cup· Eggs 2 nos· Plain flour 1/2 cup· Flour 1/2 cup· Baking Powder 1/2 tea spoon· Salt 1/2 tea spoon

Methodology:o

Grease a baking pan slightly and heat up the oven at 175 C or 350 F.Add 1 cup dates, 1 cup fried figs, 1/4 cup butter, 1/2 tsp baking soda and a cup of boiling water and mix well in a bowl. Keep it aside for 15 minutes. Add 1/2 cup sugar, 2 eggs, prepared dates mixture, 1/2 cup plain flour, 1/2 cup flour, 1/2 tsp baking powder and 1/2 tsp salt and beat well in a separate bowl. Blend the mixture and put it in a baking pan. Bake it in a preheated oven for 50 to 55 minutes and here the Dates & Fig Bread is ready for consumption.

o

Dates & Fig Bread


For a tart fresh Dates are required for filling. This recipe carries different influences such as French and of the Gulf countries.

Ingredients:For the pastry

· Butter 75 gm / 6 table spoons · Egg 1 no

Filling· Butter 90 gm / scant ½ cup· Caster sugar 90 gm / 7 tablespoons· Beaten 1 egg· Ground almonds 90 gm / scant 1 cup· Plain flour 30 ml / 2 tablespoons· Orange flower water 30 ml / 2 tablespoons· Fresh Dates 12-13 (halved and stoned)· Apricot jam 60 ml / 4 tablespoons

Date and Almond Tart

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Methodology:

Heat up the oven at 200 degrees Celsius and place a baking sheet in the oven. Put the flour and butter into a bowl and mix them with fingertips until the mixture take the shape of fine breadcrumbs. Add the egg and a tablespoon of cold water and make it a smooth dough.

Roll out the pastry on a lightly floured surface and use to line a 20cm / 8 inch tart tin. Prick the base with a fork, then chill it as need may be.

To make the filling, cream the butter and sugar until light, then beat in the egg. Stir in the ground almonds, flour and 15ml / 1 tablespoon of the orange flower water, mixing well.

Spread the mixture evenly over the base of the pastry case. Arrange the dates, cut side down, on the almond mixture. Bake on the hot baking sheet for 10-15 minutes, then reduce the heat to 180 degrees Celsius. Bake for a further 15-20 minutes until light golden and set.

Transfer the tart to a rack to cool. Gently heat the apricot jam, then press through a sieve. Add the remaining orange flower water.

Brush the tart with the jam and serve at room temperature.

Dry Dates Pickle Recipe

Ingredients:

· 250 grams Dry Dates (Khajoor)

· Red chili (Lal Mirchi) 1 teaspoon

· Coriander (Dhania) powder 5 teaspoons

· Aniseed powder 5 teaspoons

· White cumin powder 2 teaspoons

· Lemon (Nimbu) juice 3/4 or 1 cup

· Salt (Namak) to taste

Methodology:

Boil the Dates to soften. Remove the seeds and keep them whole and dry with a clean cloth.

Mix all the above ingredients together with a little salt and fill in the Dates and keep them in a jar.

Mix a little salt with lemon juice and pour it over the Dates with special attention that the Dates are covered with lemon juice.

Keep them aside for 7 days. Shake the jar every other day and serve after one week. 113


INGREDIENTS:

· 375 grams· Peeled, Ground almonds and sugar 1

cup each· Confectioners' sugar 1/4 cup· White egg 1

Methodology:Mix well the ground almonds, sugar and egg’s white. Put the mixture in a skillet and cook over a low flame, stirring constantly, until the mixture becomes sticky. Add 1 tea spoon of water and cook it for until a minute. Put it off from the boiler and let it cool for several minutes and later on fill in the Dates with the mixture stuff and roll them in confectioners' sugar. Serve the food while hot or at room temperature.

Dates, pitted

Moroccan Stuffed Dates

Ginger Date Wontons

Ingredients:

· Chopped walnuts · Medjool dates, pitted and coarsely

chopped 6 · Grated lemon peel 1 tablespoon · Butter, softened 2 teaspoons · Wonton wrappers 24 · Cooking oil for deep-fying· Chopped cystallized ginger 3 tablespoons

Methodology:

Combine together all the filling ingredients in a bowl and mix them well. Put 1 teaspoon filling in center of a wonton wrapper and keep remaining wrappers covered to prevent drying. Brush edges of wrapper with water and fold wrapper in half to give them a triangular shape. Pinch edges to seal Pull two opposite corners together, moisten one corner with water, and overlap with the other corner; press to seal. To prevent drying, cover filled wontons with a

odry towel. In a wok or 2-quart saucepan, heat oil for deep-frying to 360 F. Deep-fry wontons, a few at a time, turning occasionally, until golden brown, 2 to 3 minutes. Remove with a slotted spoon; drain on paper towels. Serve them hot or cold.

1/3 cup

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Besides their fruit value, date palms are versatile trees of life. Date palm fronds are made into sandals, baskets, rope, roofs, and bricks, while the trunks provide timber, furniture and fuel.

Traveling Bedouins create instant shelters using leaves and trunks to shade and protect them from desert winds. Pharaohs' tombs depict date palm leaves as emblems of longevity, and pyramid workers were paid in dates. Ancients used dates to sweeten beer and make wine, and today's dates are made into vinegar, sweet pickles and chutneys, baked goods and pastes, while the seeds are roasted as snacks. In the arid desert where fresh foods can be hard to come by, the mineral-packed, nutritious date is truly a God's gift.

Date palms also play a role in many religious ceremonies. The holy books of Muslims, Christians and Jews all celebrate the date in various passages. Did you know that the palm fronds used in the Catholic observance of Palm Sunday are traditionally harvested from the date palm? The date palm is one of the Four Species in the Jewish prayers at Sukkot. Last Prophet, Muhammad (PBUH) advised Muslims to "cherish your father's sister, the [date] palm," and Muslims break their fasts during Ramadan by eating a date.

Holy Plants


Wild date pits, from some 50,000 years ago, have been found in archeological sites in Iraq. Date cultivation

happened as early as 3000 B.C., and the fruit was eaten fresh or dried. In Mesopotamia, date syrup was the preferred sweetener over honey. The Romans stuffed dates with nuts and spices, coated them with honey, and baked them as sweet treats. In southern India, Marco Polo proclaimed the date wine there to be more powerful than grape wine. In Elizabethan England, well-to-do families stocked up on dates for puddings, and in fourteenth century France, dates were expensive delicacies. Only after 1830, when France conquered Algeria, did the common Frenchman get to experience the sweet fruit.

Spanish missionaries planted dates in North America in the eighteenth century, but commercial date farming didn't occur until 1902. California's Coachella Valley adds little to the world market of dates, but it does produce 99 percent of the United States supply. The area sits twenty feet below sea level with dry hot air most of the year, and the groves are irrigated with water from the Colorado River. Every year, Indio (California's date capital) hosts a ten-day date festival.

Dating the DateAncient to Modern Times

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Besides the fruit, to which most of the contents of this publication is devoted, the date palm over the centuries has also provided a large number of other products which have been extensively used by man in

all aspects of daily life. The often remoteness of the date producing areas with few other resources available has stimulated and refined these uses of basically rather coarse materials. However modern technological developments and improved communications have influenced, and in many instances decreased, their use. On the other hand these same technological developments have made it possible to look at the palm as a raw material source for industrial purposes. It seems, therefore, logical to review first the traditional uses of the various date palm parts, after which the more recent product development and use will be assessed.

Practically all parts of the date palm, except perhaps the roots, are used for a purpose best suited to them. A main division of date palm parts is made as follows: (a) the trunk, (b) the leaves (whole leaves, midribs, leaflets and spines, and the sheath at the leaf base), (c) the reproductive organs (spathes, fruit stalk, spikelets and pollen) and (d) a number of palm extracts.

Through the centuries the use of palm products in the date producing areas was diffused in all sectors of the economy from agriculture, transport and construction, to domestic use and reaching out also into the urban centres. On occasion the production of these palm products equalled or became more important than the date crop itself.

Trunk

the trunk or stem becomes available upon natural or accidental death of the palm or by forced

Traditional use of palm products

Date Palm By Products


removal. The soft growing point or terminal bud, sweet in taste, can be consumed either raw as a salad or as a cooked vegetable somewhat resembling artichoke hearts though this varies with the palm variety. Date growers of the Sahara attribute depurative properties to the bud and it is consumed more for this purpose than as a food. In time of food scarcity the inside of the trunk has been pulverized and turned into a coarse flour for human consumption. But the trunk's main use is for its wood, which intrinsically is not of high quality because of the coarse vascular bundles (monocotolydon!) but it has great tensile strength. Its use is therefore geared to exploit this characteristic such as for poles, beams, rafters, lintels, girders, pillars, jetties and light foot bridges. For this purpose they can be used whole or split in half or quarters. Hollowed out half trunks are used as conduits for water, or at shorter lengths for mangers and troughs. Sawn into coarse planks they are made up into doors, shutters and staircases for houses.

Rustic furniture has also been made though trunk wood, because of its coarse vascular structure, is difficult to cut, finish and polish. Furthermore the trunk was used extensively in the supporting strucures for water lifting be it in the Egyptian waterwheel, the Sakiyeh or in the animal drawn water lifting from open wells. And finally, the trunks are also used as firewood.

Leaves

Every year under normal growth conditions an average of 12 to 15 new leaves are formed by the palm and consequently the same amount can be expected to be cut as part of the maintenance of the palm. Taken over hundreds or thousands of trees this can lead to large numbers of leaves becoming available annually.

Date trunkbeing used

as girder.

118Date Crop

of Khairpur

Leaves offer the most varied end use opportunities which are discussed by the individual parts in which the leaf can be divided:

i. The leaf as a whole: whole leaves are used in fencing by sticking them into the ground and holding them together with two or three layers of rope made of the leaflets, or in partitioning in houses and enclosures of terraces providing privacy but keeping a certain ventilation. Leaves are further used as roofing to give shade or for newly planted offshoots. Where mud is used in house construction whole date leaves may be laid across the ceiling beams (made of the trunk) in a thick bedding upon which a layer of mud is poured to form the first floor or roof cover.

Whole palm leaves further have a special meaning at Christian and Jewish religious festivals and the introduction of the date palm into South America has been attributed to the missionaries who carried along date seeds from the Old World in order to secure a supply of palm leaves for religious celebrations.

ii. Midribs: the very base of the date leaf encircles the palm as a fibrous sheath and remains part of the trunk. When the leaf is cut off at a length dependent on the prevalent cultural practices, the base of the midrib is broad and flattened but quickly narrows from the base upwards into a more or less triangularly shaped stick which thins down towards the end of the leaf. Usually the leaf base is cut off and treated separately whilst the remaining "stick" (still called midrib to simplify nomenclature) when stripped of the spines and leaflets is used for different purposes. Soaked in water, straightened and set and held closely together by cross members pierced through them, midribs make effective building boards of about 50 x 200 cm, and used as partitioning or roofing.

Leaf bases sharpened at the thin end and hammered in a close pack have been used to line the walls of open wells when the usual brick or stone are not available. They were used by fishermen to float their nets and by the same principle helped children to learn to swim. The base can be split and beaten out with the resulting fibre mass being used as a hand broom. With a bit longer than the usual thin piece left on as a handle, the leaf base was used as a bat to densify mud walls by the mason. And, like other fibrous parts of the

Cutting midribfor making crate.


Tools whichused.

Making wholesin midrib.

Breakingmidrib.

120Date Crop

of Khairpur

palm, leaf bases are particularly suited as a fuel.

The most widespread use of the midrib is making crates, but also furniture. There is a great variation in size and type of the containers, adapted to the specific purpose, but the principles of construction are basically the same.

Starting from these basic operations and with increasing artisanal skills a wide variety of containers has emerged, from simple fruit crates, birdcages and chicken coops to double deck twin cages, sometimes with sliding doors, hung on a donkey's, or a camel's back to carry a wide variety of fowl and other produce to the market. For the more delicate products, e.g. fresh fruit or eggs, the crates may be lined with palm or other vegetable fibre, carton, or heavy brown paper. The art of crate making has extended to other domestic products like carrying boards, bottle racks and furniture, especially chairs and bedsteads.

It is clear from the above description that artisanal crate making is labour intensive and comparatively slow. With the changing economic patterns in most date producing countries including increased labour costs and scarcity, crate making has diminished. Some attempts have been made to mechanize some of the operations by mechanical levelling, smoothing and punching in central workshops and delivering the crates in kits to be assembled by the user thus saving transport costs. Though these measures may have had some impact they have not been able to stem the flow and use of modern packaging materials, plastics in particular. Nevertheless midribs do still play a role in the manufacture of crates and rustic furniture in the rural date producing centres.

Other uses of midribs have been reported such as a fibre source for rope making, as a staff, cane or fishing rod or as supports for grape vines and ripening date bunches. Besides serving as a direct fuel source when needed, midribs can also be turned into a light good quality charcoal.

Trunk used in Roof Making

For Fowl on Donkey's Back


iii. Leaflets: vary in length from about 15 to 100 cm and in breadth from 1 to 6 cm. The number of leaflets on one midrib may be in the range of 120 to 240.

Leaflets are mainly used in plaits which are sewn together in a wide array of baskets and sacks, but also mats and smaller articles like fans and hats. The fundamental technology for its most widespread use, baskets, is to plait the leaflets into strips of matting of considerable length which are coiled in a spiral and its edges sewn together with a thread made out of the same leaflets. For instance, for a common date basket with a bottom diameter of about 50 cm and 75 cm high, a plaited strip of about 10 cm width and 15 m length is needed. The finer the plaiting and the narrower the strips the more closely knit and sturdier baskets or bags can be made. For the most refined products fresh leaves just issuing from their protective cover on the palm and offering a less brittle, yet tough fibre, are used, but the supply of these fibres is necessarily limited. Next to the date basket, the carrying basket is a most common item both for private and professional uses. A common size for transport of earth, building materials or even, in a larger version, coal, is about 20 cm diameter at the bottom, widening to the top (in contrast to the date basket which narrows to the top), and 30 cm high. It will hold 30-36 kgs of earth or sand and needs reinforcement at the bottom and handles for a durable life span. These baskets are carried on the shoulder and through the

Containers for Domestic Use

made out ofFibre of the

Leaflets Wrapped

around Cores Derived from Fibre cut off

the Fruit Stalk

122Date Crop

of Khairpur

ages a very large amount of material has been moved in this way. For private use, baskets or bags are often plaited with coloured leaflets to create colourful designs or reinforced with (brown) thread made of the fibre covering the frond base (sheath fibre, see later).

Large-scale carrying baskets of an inverted cone shape slung over a camel's back and fitted with a valve at the bottom for easy discharge are used for longer distances, whilst donkeys almost disappear under the loads of fruits and vegetables by similarly shaped side baskets hung on their backs.

By a different technology but using the same raw materials, sturdy baskets, and vase shaped containers and trays are made. The technique consists of first forming cores of finely divided fibres of the date fruit stalk. These cores are laid in a spiral and wrapped over with shredded leaflets at the same time linking them with the former spiral. In this way all types of shapes can be given to the basket by the form in which the cores are laid. Lids are also made in this way, providing a vast


array of baskets, vases and depository boxes. Trays made in this way are used for many purposes in the house.

Besides woven products, leaflets are also used for making cord which is used, for instance, for tying up bundles of nursery stock or other temporary fixing jobs in horticulture. In making it, the leaflets are shredded into strips of about 2-3 mm wide, soaked in water and twisted into cord by rolling the fibre between the palm of the hands into a strand. Usually a two-strand cord is made with a thickness of about 7 to 10 mm.

Handbrooms are made from the leaflets by arranging and tying them in flat bundles and the very young white pinnae shredded into fine fibre and bundled at one end serve as fly whisks. Leaflets are also used as bedding for animals.

A different use of palm leaflets is the use as a stuffing material for cushions and mattresses, although rated lower in quality than the widely used "Krena" (crin végétal) made from the dwarf palm (Algeria, Morocco). The process consists of drying the palm leaves on concrete floors, stripping the leaflets from the midrib, bundling them (about 15 cm diameter)

and soaking these bundles in water. When softened they are put through a rippling machine which consists of a fast rotating drum with pins on its surface. The material comes out in fine threads. This material is dried (naturally) and baled, or turned into thick rope for further distribution. The quality of the material is determined by its elasticity and resistance to break under pressure. One ton of krena requires a supply of about 2,000 whole leaves.

iv. Spines: they are specialized leaflets converted into tough pointed pins which may vary from very short to up to 20 cm in length and from very thin to 1 cm in width. Situated at the lower end of the midrib they have the obvious function of protecting the central tender parts of the palm. When leaves are harvested, spines normally have already been removed during preceding cultural practices to give the operator access to the central part of

Handmade Cord made

of Shredded Date Leaflets.

124Date Crop

of Khairpur

the tree. They can be used in the making of fishtraps and obviously, toothpicks or other uses where a sharp pointed utensil is needed. No reference has however been found that the spine is used as a sewing needle in basket making, which really would make the palm fully self sufficient in procuring packing material for its own produce.

v. Sheath: New date palm leaves come out from a tender cover tissue which upon growth of the leaf remains at its base attached to its lateral edges, and surrounding the trunk of the palm. The connective tissue has gone and a brownish fibrous sheath is left which, when pruning the leaves, can be torn loose and is known under the name of leef. Apart from its fuel value it is best known for the many types of rope made from it. The raw material has the appearance of a coarsely woven fabric.

Manufacture follows the usual pattern from purely manual rope making to the use of simple machines. The product is rather coarse (somewhat like coir) but

has sufficient strength to "hold ships together" as was practised in the past when no nails were available. Rope of different diameters is frequently used in waterlifting. It is also made into nets with a mesh of about 20 cm for carrying (heavy) loads of coarse materials by camel or transporting forage and the coarser vegetables on a donkey's back.

In lighter versions rope is used for binding, tying, handles and reinforcement of baskets, muzzles, fishnets, etc. The leef as such is used for protecting newly planted offshoots, padding, upholstering, wash cloths, brushes, bedding and shading live plants and produce.

Sheath Fibre from the Leaf Base as it comes from the Palm.

Details of Shealth Fibre.


Reproductive organs

Male flowers, being the first to mature, and for a short period not yet required for pollination, are sometimes consumed by the farmer. The male flowers have been also used to distill a scent from it called Tara water. Pollen is reportedly ingested to enhance fertility. What remains after the annual reproductive cycle has ended with harvesting of the dates, are the spathes, the fruit stalks and spikelets of the female tree and some spathes and flower stalks of the male palms, because the latter are much less in number than the female palms.

I. Spathes: the initially green and tender shields that enclose the male and female flowers turn tough and fibrous at the end of the annual production cycle. After pollination male spathes are removed and pieces are sometimes chewed by the farmer or soaked in drinking water to improve its flavour. Spathe can also be boiled and distilled resulting in a liquid used for flavouring hot or cold drinks and is also effective as a digestive. More recently spathe extracts have been investigated for possible special properties.

ii. Empty bunches: are composed of the fruit stalk with concentrated on one end the spikelets to which the dates were attached. With the spikelets trimmed down the bunch as a whole may serve as a simple broom. Secondly it has, like the other fibrous parts of palm a fuel value. Having had to carry a considerable weight of ripening dates through the season (indeed in some date varieties the bunch has to be artifically supported for fear of breakage) it stands to reason that the fruit stalks must have notable tensile strength. Also because the fibre is long, fruit stalks are quite often preferred over other palm fibre for work where safety is a first requirement such as in climbers' ropes and belts, and saddle girths. Making rope from the fruit stalks involves wetting (perhaps soaking) to soften the stalk somewhat, after which it is hammered with a broad-faced iron hammer to loosen the fibre, especially the basal end. After this, in vertical position and holding the upper end of the stalk with the spikelets with his foot, the operator will strip the fibre bundles

Date Crop126

of Khairpur

by hand starting from the basal end of the stalk.

The thinner strands are made at this stage the finer and stronger rope can ultimately be made. With the fibre strips thus harvested the normal rope making procedures will start, i.e. making strands out of a number of strips, twisting two strands into one cord and subsequently twisting three cords into one rope. A typical climbing rope is 2.5 m long and 2 to 2.5 cm in diameter.

To make a broad climbing belt to give more support to the back of the climber a 3 ply cord (5-7 mm) is laid out flat and folded back and forth in 16 to 20 parallel lines each about 110 cm in length. These parallels are then stitched together crosswise. With a secure splicing technique the climbing rope is secured tightly to the belt at one end. At the other end of the belt the doubled loops are assembled in one single loop through which the climber will knot the loose end of his rope after having passed it around the palm trunk. There are several techniques to climb a palm with the help of rope; from a safe tucked-in position in a belt to the more daring and quicker technique of using the rope only as a hand support and throwing it intermittently about one metre upwards whilst stepping up the palm.

Other uses of the fruitstalks are as decoration for the ceilings in the home, the spikelets are eaten by camels and the stalk fibre frequently used as coarse sewing thread and as the cores for special types of basket making.

The date palm sap stores the bulk of its reserve of photosynthetically produced carbohydrates in the form of sucrose in solution in the vascular bundles of its trunk. When the central growing point or upper part of the trunk is incised this palm sap will exude as a fresh clear juice consisting principally of sucrose. Upon standing and favoured by the warm season (when tapping takes place), breakdown of sucrose will soon commence, increasing the invert sugar content, after which fermentation will set in spontaneously by naturally occurring yeasts and within a day most of the sugar will have been converted into alcohol (around 5% v/v). The liquid will turn milky white. References to palm tapping date back long before the birth of Christ and also the famous Roman chronicler and historian Plinius makes mention of it (128, 137). However, the curious fact exists that, traditionally, tapping of the date palm has not developed in all date producing countries, apart from enforced bans on tapping that have been imposed, be it on religious grounds or to protect a national food source. Palm tapping, even if still existent in several parts of the date producing world, has always been marked with two phenomena: a potential danger of abuse of and addiction to the fermented sap, and a consequent decline of a recurrent food supply. With regard to the latter point it should be emphasized that tapping a palm, especially according to the methods used in the date producing countries, is a severe intervention. It deprives the palm of most of its (productive) leaves and food reserves and to recuperate these losses it is knocked out for at least 3 or 4 years before it will bear a full crop of fruit again. A severe wound inflicted on the palm is kept open every day to maintain the sap flow. The palm's survival depends on the

Date Palm Sap

Heavy Rope made from Shredded Date Palm Fruit Stalks


skill of the tapper (Usta) because if the daily scarring is carried on too far, the palm will die. Literally the palm's life balances on razor's edge (in this case the Usta's sharp sickle) and it adds a sentimental issue for some people who resent seeing a palm exploited to these extremes. If not forbidden outright by Governments, the authorities have attempted to regulate palm tapping by restricting measures such as for example: i: subjecting it to a permit, ii: imposing tax, iii: permitting tapping of only diseased, declining or poor yielding palms, iv: authorizing only registered tappers, v: marking and wiring of palms, vi: restricting the period of

tapping to 60 days, vii: obligatory substitution of the tapped palm by a new palm, viii: imposing heavy fines and/or imprisonment of trespassers (445, 138). These measures may assist in preventing a deterioration in date palm cultivation, but they fall short of preventing consumption or abuse of the fermented version of palm sap.

It is indeed not an easy task for the legislator to intervene in the consumption of a liquid derived from a natural juice for which he gave permission to be harvested and which spontaneously has changed its properties within a matter of hours. The fact that the natural (sweet) and the fermented juice in Arabic are known under the same name, lagbi or lagmi, does not simplify the matter either.

It is generally agreed that palm tapping can have, potentially, undesirable side effects and the safest way to prevent these from happening is to prohibit it altogether, a measure that more than often has been applied.

However if one looks at the thousands of tons of sugar produced from the Wild date palm (Phoenix sylvestris), the Coconut palm, Palmyra, the Sago (Caryota urens) and the Nipa palm, the question is raised whether sugar from date palm sap would under certain circumstances not be profitable. Or put in another way: the date palm offers its "produce" in two ways, as fruits and, alternatively, as a sugar (sucrose) containing sap; does a choice exist?

Compared with the Indian experience where tapping the Wild date palm is a very well developed cottage industry, two points emerge immediately: the Wild date palm does not offer an alternative product because its fruits are not attractive for human consumption hence it is not a choice anymore; secondly palm tapping has developed in India in a much less drastic way. It is done annually and it does not remove the whole crown of leaves, thus leaving a great part of the productive capacity of the palm.

The collecting pots are

hung

(L to R)Partially

fermented sap,Sap froma limed pot,

Clarified/filtered sap.

128Date Crop

of Khairpur

Annexures

S.N Name Address Contact

1 Date Palm Research

Institute (DPRI)

Shah Abdul Latif University,

Khairpur

3 Regional Agricultural

Research Institute

Bahawalpur -

4 Arid Zone Research

Institute

Bahawalpur -


Institute KPK

D.I. Khan -

6 Agricultural Research

Institute

7 Ayub Agriculture Research

Institute

Jhang Road, Faisalabad 24359

30548

8 Plant Protection Institute Directorate of Plant Protection

Institute, Faisalabad

26324

9 Postgraduate Agricultural

Research Station

University of Agriculture,

Faisalabad

10 Agronomic Research

Institutes

Ayub Agricultural Research

Institutes, Jhang Road,

Faisalabad.

24359

30548

11 National Agriculture

Research Centre

Park Road, P.O. Box No.1031,

GPO Islamabad

12 Pakistan Agricultural

Research Council

Headquarter 20 A, Ramna,

G-5/1, Attaturk Avenue,

Islamabad

13 Agricultural Mechanization

Research Institute (AMRI)

P.O. Box No. 416, GPO Multan 061-572733

061-44343

14 Agricultural Research

Institute Sariab

Quetta 081-43581

081-41029

081-43581

15 Arid Zone Research Centre,

Quetta

Brewery Road, P.O. Box No.

63, GPO Quetta

081-853620


Institute Sindh

Umerkot -

0243-9280344

0243-9280344

2 Date Research Centre Tur bat 0861-412713

0861-413057

Ratta Kulachi, D.I. Khan, KPK, 0961-740046

0961-740184

0961-740415

051-820052-53

051-9203966

051-9203071

051-9202968

Annex A: Some renowned Date Palm & Agriculture Research Institutes of Pakistan

(Courtesy: Souvenir of Date Festival, Khairpur, 2010)


1 Mohammad Younis S/O Bagh Ali 0344-3324382 5

2 Hafeezullah Khan S/O Mohammad Mithal 0300-3180800 20

3 Gul Hassan S/O Mehar Ali 0302-3650737 20

4 Imtiaz Ali S/O Shah Nawaz 0302-3693688 25

5 Mohammad Saleem S/O Haji Hoat Ali 0344-3392660 15

6 Sher Mohammad S/O Fateh Mohammad 0306-3128662 10

7 Karam Ali S/O Noor Mohammad 0333-7158674 15

8 Ali Nawaz S/O Haji Siddique 0300-3186070 50

9 Mohammad Saleh S/O Haji Mohammad Saddique 0300-3294881 10

10 Hafiz Motan S/O Haji Adyal 0323-3808724 50

11 Mohammad Sabal S/O Wali Mohammad 0300-3299571 15

12 Mushtaque Ali S/O Adal Khan 0342-3011291 15

13 Abdul Haq S/O Abdullah 0334-2908285 15

14 Imtiaz Ali S/O Kabeer Khan 0308-3683651 40

15 Loung Khan S/O Hadi Bux 0300-3988607 30

16 Mohammad Moosan S/O Rasool Bux 0307-3662918 30

17 Parvez Ali S/O Sultan Ahmed 0333-2465713 50

18 Gulmeer Ahmed S/O Haji Dilawar - 30

19 Wahid Bux S/O Suhno Khan 0344-3783260 30

20 Dhani Bux S/O Baqir Khan 0334-2912963 30

21 Dr. Yousif S/O Rasool Bux 0344-3399139 25

22 Zameer Ahmed S/O Badeehal Khan 0342-3681115 25

23 Abdul Rauf S/O Abdul Khair 0303-3745374 10

24 Nawaz Ahmed S/O Ali Mardan 0308-3601424 30

25 Ali Hassan S/O Inayatullah 0342-3793313 30

26 Naik Ahmed S/O Ghulam Abbas 0308-3607638 15

27 Abdul Rehman S/O Miandad - 15

Annex B: A detailed List of Members and Office Bearers of Abadgar Social Welfare Association (ASWA), Sukkur

S.N Name with Father’s Name Contact No Acre

130Date Crop

of Khairpur

28 Behram Ali S/O Arsilah 0334-2272582 10

29 Yaseen Ahmed S/O Hazar Khan - 10

30 Hafiz Ali Gul S/O Haji Badeehal 0305-3939816 15

31 Dost Ali S/O Shaban Khan 0300-3150871 30

32 Barkat Ali S/O Rahim Ali 0331-3180906 20

33 Gulzar Ali S/O Haji Badeehal Ali - 10

34 Illahi Bux S/O Haji Rasool Bux 0333-7150300 30

35 Haji Mohammad Yaqoob S/O Tureel Khan 0300-9311509 30

36 Gulzar Ahmed S/O Mohammad Qasim 0300-3101056 20

37 Mola Bux S/O Rasool Bux 0333-7102608 10

38 Mohammad Nawaz S/O Sukhyal Khan - 50

39 Bijar Khan S/O Sukhyal Khan 0302-3624435 40

40 Zubair Ahmed S/O Ghulam Ahmed - 5 0

41 Nazakat Ali S/O Shahmeer Ahmed 0331-3072552 20

42 Manjhi Khan S/O Pehlwan - 20

43 Sudheer Ahmed S/O Sikeladho Khan 0300-3137280 50

44 Sukhyal Khan S/0 Bijar Khan 0302-3658193 100

45 Hassan Ali S/O Dost Mohammad 0300-8375889 20

46 Mushtaque Ali S/O Inam Ali 0300-8389310 10

47 Hatim Ali - 10

48 Mohammad Ishaque S/O Atta Mohammad 0300-3139110 15

49 Pathan Khan S/O Saeed Khan - 10

50 Mohammad Usman S/O Agha Ali - 5

51 Zulfiqar Ali S/O Chibhir Khan 0301-3888088 20

52 Ali Ahmed S/O Chandi Khan 0331-3925130 20

53 Gulzar Ahmed S/O Ajeeb Khan 0331-2756963 10

54 Mohammad Dital S/O Mubark Khan - 20

55 Faqir Mohammad S/O Ali Dur 0300-3299458 10

56 Ali Mardan S/O Faqir Mohammad - 7

57 Mehar Khan S/O Akhtiar Khan 0333-7111034 10




58 Alif Khan S/O Hazoor Bux 0343-3648464 15

59 Illahi Bux S/O Alif Khan 0300-3443787 15

60 Malhar Khan S/O Jumo Khan 0344-3207001 20

61 Abdul Razzaq S/O Haji Mohammad Bux 0302-3136772 50

62 Ali Hur S/O Haji Mir Mohammad 0300-8389310 50

63 Abdul Ghafoor S/O Abdul Latif - 10

64 Rahim Ali S/O Fakir Ali Shah 0300-3131885 10

65 Daim Ali S/O Wahid Bux 0332-2908364 20

66 Mohammad Iqbal S/O Ghulam Mohammad Pirzado 0333-7584251 10

67 Mohammad Wasyal S/O Ameer Bux Dharejo 0343-3175691 20

68 Nabi Bux S/O Gulan Faqir Pirzado 0333-7161357 10

69 Mohammad Anwar S/O Mohammad Mithal Pirzado 0334-3919173 10

70 Kareem Dino S/O Mohammad Rashid Dharejo 0346-3673660 20

71 Niaz Ahmed S/O Abdul Ghani Ganghro 0331-3161427 20

72 Mushtaq Ahmed Arejo 03072723734 30

73 Mour Khan S/O Mohammad Ismail Mahar 0300-3114595 25

74 Manzoor Ahmed S/O Faqir Mohammad Mahar 0344-5002202 25

75 Irshad Ali S/O Ali Nawaz Bhayo 0300-3100206 20

76 Qazi Aziz Rehman S/O Qazi Abdul Rehman Memon 0300-3122698 50

77 Mohammad Ameen S/O Haji Dhani Bux Kalhoro - 20

78 Buland Khan S/O Ghazi Khan Chandio 0344-3714890 10

79 Haji Koral S/O Mohammad Panjal Merijo 0300-3110994 40

80 Haji Badal S/O Mohammad Saleh Bangar 0301-3427167 40

81 Shafi Mohammad S/O Rasool Bux Memon 0306-3653853 10

82 Mumtaz Ali S/O Allah Wassayo Metlo 0301-3862452 15

83 Mohammad Ameen S/O Mohammad Paryal Ganghro 0346-3665346 20

84 Ali Dur S/O Faqir Mohammad 0300-3299459 10

85 Wadero Allah Warrayo Jandhan 0302-3670655 25

86 Gulzar Ahmed S/O Jam Khan Mahar 0346-3429823 10

87 Abdul Qayoom S/O Haji Saddiqe Ali Baloch 0300-9315866 66132



88 Haji Muneer Ahmed S/O Haji Allahdad Baloch 0301-3430650 30

89 Zameer Ahmed S/O Dost Mohammad 0344-3371556 20

90 Abdul Waheed S/O Jan Mohammad Jamro 0300-3136979 35

91 Abdul Haleem S/O Abdul Sami Memon 0333-7595273 20

92 Mohammad Jadal S/O Jammaluddin Bhangar 0301-3409700 20

93 Shah Nawaz S/O Haji Khan Bhand 0301-3409731 25

94 Nisar Ahmed S/O Haji Ghulam Hussain Bhutto 0300-3606750 25

95 Haji Abdul Ghani S/O Jamaluddin Maganhar 0300-3189264 10

96 Haji Ahmed Ali S/O Haji Khameso Khan Phulpoto 0300-3116772 20

97 Haji Wazir Ahmed S/O Haji Wahid Bux Phulpoto 0303-3290215 5

98 Haji Mir Mohammad S/O Haji Ghulam Jaffar Jamali 0344-3787228 10

99 Abdul Khalik S/O Haji Khameso Khan Phulpoto 0301-3418458 25

100 Qalandar Bux S/O Dhani Bux 0346-8267350 6

101 Abdul Wahid S/O Meharuddin Utera 0344-3783655 10

102 Abdullah S/O Thanhiro Junejo 0346-3438885 10

103 Ghulam Akbar S/O Ghulam Nabi Phulpoto 0307-3662188 15

104 Mohammad Iqbal S/O Mohammad Soomar Phulpoto 0300-3134385 15

105 Hafiz Mohammad Ismail S/O Haji Daim Ali Jatoi 0300-9316667 40

106 Khalilullah S/O Haji Mohammad Ishaqe Memon 0300-3144400 50

107 Fateh Mohammad S/O Ameer Bux Dharejo 0344-3399434 40

108 Masood Nabi S/O Ghulam Nabi Dogar 0301-8312444 50

109 Haji Kamaluddin S/O Rab Nawaz Jatoi 0343-3576959 40

110 Deedar Ali S/O Dur Mohammad Jatoi 0302-8319600 60

111 Atteeq Rehman Memon 0333-7181190 20

112 Shahzado Khan Joyo 0306-3139208 5

113 Tarique Ahmed Thaheem 0344-3392748 10

(Courtesy: Hafiz Abdul Haleem Memon, Therrhi, Khairpur.)


Annex C: An elaborative list of prominent Date Palm Growers and innovative agriculturists of district Khairpur and details of their approximate Date Palm tree holdings.

1 Molvi Sadruddin Phulpoto Khairpur 2000

2 Mr. Hafiz Abdul Haleem Memon Therrhi 1500

3 Mr. Zubair Ahmed Phulpoto Khairpur 1500

4 Mr. Qadir Bakhsh Mari Tando Masti 2000

5 Mr. Qazi Azizur Rahman Memon Therrhi 25000

6 Molvi Habibullah Therrhi 25000

7 Mr. Ahsanullah Therrhi 2000

8 Mr. Saleemullah Therrhi 2000

9 Mr. Haji Salahuddin Phulpoto Khairpur 2500

10 Mr. Mubin Ahmed Phulpoto Khairpur 8000

11 Mr. Haji Allah Warayo Mahar Khairpur 2000

12 Mr. Munawar Wassan Kot Diji 2500

13 Mr. Muhammad Chuttal Bhund Pir Jo Goth 10000

14 Mr. Sarwar Pathan Gambat 250

15 Mr. Nisar Khuhro Gambat 250

16 Mr. Habibullah Jamro Gambat 250

17 Mr. Imdad Bhutto Gambat 250

18 Mr. Bashir Bhutto Gambat 250

19 Mr. Saeed Ahmed Therrhi 2000

20 Mr. Mola Bakhsh Larik Khairpur 3000

21 Mr. Irshad Ahmed Bhayo Khairpur 3000

22 Mr. Tahir Imtiaz Phulpoto Khairpur 3000

23 Mr. Wadero Abdul Khaliq Phulpoto Khairpur 3000

24 Mr. Muhammad Ameen Ghanghro Khairpur 1000

25 Mr. Kamaldin Jatoi Babarloi 1000

26 Mr. Masood Nabi Dogar Shah Ladhani 2000

No. of treesLocationNameS.N

134Date Crop

of Khairpur

27 Mr. Agha Nasrullah Pathan Shah Ladhani 2000

28 Dr. Salahuddin Ujjan Karimabad 4000

29 Molvi Noor Muhammad Jamali Kot Mir Muhammad 1500

30 Haji Bilawal Memon Therrhi 3000

31 Mr. Safiullah Langah Therrhi 2000

32 Mr. Jindal Malhi Therrhi 2000

33 Molvi Habibullah Therrhi 2000

34 Haji Mushtaq Ahmed Therrhi 2000

35 Mr. Muhammad Ismaeel Hajano Mithri 1500

36 Mr. Mukhtiar Langah Khairpur 2000

37 Mr. Akhtar Wassan Kot Diji 2000

38 Mr. Manzoor Wassan Kot Diji 3000

39 Mr. Jawed Shah Khairpur 2000

40 Dr. Liaqat Ali Shah Khairpur 1500

41 Dr. Ghulam Qadir Shaikh Khairpur 2500

42 Dr. Yar Muhammad Phulpoto Khairpur 2000

43 Molvi Saleemullah Qazi Therrhi 2000

44 Prof. Lutfullah Therrhi 1000

45 Haji Ikramullah Phulpoto Bhurgri 2000

46 Mr. Muhammad Ismaeel Jatoi Babarloi 2000

47 Haji Ubaidullah Memon Therrhi 2000

48 Mr. Rasheedullah Mahar Khairpur 2000

49 Haji Azizullah Mahar - 1000

50 Mr. Qasim Ali Shah Waro 2000

51 Haji Nawab Wassan Kot Diji 2000

52 Mr. Tanvir Wassan Kot Diji 2000

53 Mr. Saleem Raza Khuhro Gambat 500

54 Mr. Faqir Muhammad Narejo Drib 500

55 Mr. Abdul Razzaq Phulpoto Khairpur 500



56 Mr. Altaf Phulpoto Khairpur 1100

57 Mr. Altaf Memon Khairpur 4000

58 Mr. Iqbal Soomro Molrro 1500

59 Mr. Saeed Khan Sobho Mithri 2000

60 Mr. Muhkum Sobho Mithri 600

61 Mr. Munir Ahmed Memon Therrhi 2000

62 Mr. Saifullah Therrhi 1000

63 Mr. Abdul Qadeer Therrhi 2000

64 Mr. Abdul Waheed Therrhi 1000

65 Mr. Bashir Ahmed Therrhi 2000

66 Mr. Kaleemullah Therrhi 2000

67 Mr. Muhammad Ahasan Therrhi 1000

68 Mr. Muhammad Akram Therrhi 1000

69 Mr. Muhammad Hasan Therrhi 1000

70 Mr. Imdadullah Therrhi 1000

71 Mr. Manzoor Ahmed Langah Therrhi 1000

72 Mr. Muhammad Tajal Langah Therrhi 2000

73 Mr. Muhammad Tajal Phulpoto Therrhi 2000

74 Mr. Muhammad Sulaiman Phulpoto Therrhi 1000

75 Mr. Ali Bakhsh Phulpoto Therrhi 1000

76 Mr. Muhammad Rafiq Phulpoto Therrhi 1000

77 Molvi Abdullah Abbasi Therrhi 500

78 Molvi Ahsan Therrhi 500

79 Mr. Rasheedullah Memon Therrhi 1000

80 Mr. Basheer Ahmed Memon Therrhi 1000

81 Mr. Zawar Shah Babarloi 1000

82 Mr. Nasir Shah Babarloi 1000

83 Mr. Mushtaq Ahmed Arejo Kingri 500

84 Mr. Abdul Razaq Burdi Piryalo 500


136Date Crop

of Khairpur

85 Mr. Kazim Ali Burdi Piryalo 500

86 Molvi Ubaidullah Solangi Wadi Machyoon 1000

87 Mr. Muhammad Ismaeel Abbasi Therrhi 1000

88 Mr. Saifullah Memon Therrhi 1000

89 Mr. Abdul Malik Memon Therrhi 1000

90 Molvi Mushtaq Ahmed Therrhi 500

91 Mr. Farman Ali Shaikh Karimabad 500

92 Mr. Hafizullah Memon Therrhi 500

93 Mr. Abdul Ghafoor Memon Therrhi 500

94 Molvi Fazlullah Phulpoto Therrhi 500

95 Mr. Ghulam Rasool Phulpoto Therrhi 500

96 Mr. Qazi Zakariya Therrhi 2000

97 Mr. Majeedullah Therrhi 1000

98 Mr. Qazi Rafiullah Therrhi 2000

99 Mr. Qazi Waheedullah Therrhi 1500

100 Mr. Qazi Lutfullah Therrhi 1000

101 Mr. Qazi Abdul Ali Therrhi 1000

102 Mr. Fatehullah Therrhi 1000

103 Mr. Faizullah Therrhi 500

104 Mr. Nazir Ahmed Therrhi 500

105 Mr. Faheemullah Therrhi 500

106 Hafiz Rasheedullah Therrhi 1000

107 Haji Rehmatullah Therrhi 1000

108 Mr. Abdur Rahim Therrhi 500




S.N

Name of Grower

Contact

Area of Orchard

Approx. Date Palm

Trees

Date palms covered

with begs

1. Saleemullah 0302-3660205 15 acrs 1200 150

2. Aftab Ahmed 0306-3119953 5 acrs 300 50

3. Badruddin 0333-7581788 10 acrs 800 100

4. Mazharuddin 0301-3976203 4 acrs 300 50

5. Abdul Qayoom 0307-3207486 4 acrs 350 50

6. Jameel Ahmed 0303-3555454 10 acrs 1000 150

7. Ahsan Ahmed 0300-3784379 20 acrs 1500 150

8. Haneef Ahmed 0305-3028775 15 acrs 1400 150

9. Safeeullah 0302-3127920 5 acrs 300 50

10. Kifayatullah 0301-3496663 15 acrs 1000 150

11. Muhammad Yahya 0305-3973100 5 acrs 300 50

12. M: Akram 0300-3295345 8 acrs 400 50

13. Imdadullah 0300-3103706 10 acrs 700 70

14. Naeemullah 0333-7584417 6 acrs 400 50

15. Waliullah 0300-3148215 5 acrs 300 50

16. Saifullah 0300-3655409 5 acrs 300 50

17. Awais Ahmed 0305-3229429 10 acrs 600 65

18. Hamdullah 0333-7589352 20 acrs 1800 150

19. Jamaluddin 0300-3149674 8 acrs 600 65

20. Kaleemullah 0300-3185443 20 acrs 1500 100

Annex D: Details of some progressive Date Growers of Khairpur District, who undergone a successful experiment of using Tyvek Begs in their Date Palm Orchards


138Date Crop

of Khairpur


1 Adil & Co. 28-Phase-II, -Khajoor & Anaj Market, Khairpur

M. Bashir Arain0243-5524860300-8310458

2 Al-Badar Dates Farm Phulpoto Mohallah, Khairpur

Sadruddin Phulpoto0300-3115211

3 Ameet Traders Khajoor Anaj Mandi, Khairpur

Khushhaal0300-8310495

4 Anees Traders Khajoor Anaj Mandi, Khairpur

Gullam Mustafa0333-7596901

5 Azad Traders 48-Khajoor & Anaj Market, Khairpur

Rajesh Kumar0243-5529780300-8318383

6 Badal Commission Shop Khajoor Anaj Mandi, Khairpur

M. Hassan Badal0301-8315025

7 Bhittai Commission Shop Khajoor Anaj Mandi, Khairpur

Daryano Mal0300-9318704

8 Bhittai Traders 35-Khajoor & Anaj Market, Khairpur

Mukesh Kumar0243-3553534

9 Canam Pak Dates (Pvt) Ltd.

Therri, Distt. Khairpur Khalil Ahmed0300-3146857

10 Dastageer Traders 22-Khajoor & Anaj Market, Khairpur

Parma Nand0243-5512200300-9318052

11 Dat Traders 18- Khajoor & Anaj Market, Khairpur

Haresh Mal/Mahesh Mal0243-552979

12 Eshwer Traders 30-Phase-II, Khajoor & Anaj Market, Khairpur

Suresh Kumar0243-5537060333-758950

13 Gautam Commission Shop

Khajoor Anaj, Mandi, Khairpur

Jaiy Kumar0345-3863005

14 Golden Traders Khajoor Anaj, Mandi, Khairpur

Gurmuk Daas0301-3675313

15 Kanwal Traders 40- Khajoor & Anaj Market, Khairpur

Jeejo Mal0243-552006

16 Lal Traders 24- Khajoor & Anaj Market, Khairpur

Sham Das0333-7132266, 0342-3929406

17 Malik Subboor Traders 10-A, Phase-II, Khajoor & Anaj Market, Khairpur

Malik Nisar Ahmed0243-5543190300-8312242

18 Mehran Dates Products Therri, Distt. Khairpur Shoaib Manzoor Memon0300-3138308

19 Mohabbat Traders Khajoor Anaj Mandi, Khairpur

Parvez Phulphotto0300-2948797

Annex E: List of prominent Date Exporters of Khairpur



20 Mohabbat Waqar Traders

17- Khajoor & Anaj Market, Khairpur

M. Arbab0243-554348

21 Nadeem Traders Therri, Distt. Khairpur (Mirs)

Mujeebullah Memon0243-7714440300-9310936

22 New Al-Shahbaz Traders 52- Khajoor & Anaj Market, Khairpur

Daryanomal0792-5523160300-9318737

23 New Jey Lal Khajoor Anaj Mandi, Khairpur

Mahesh0300-3131699

24 New Lal Shahbaz Trading 16- Khajoor & Anaj Market, Khairpur

Autu Mal0243-5516830300-8310440

25 Raja Commission Shop Khajoor Anaj Mandi, Khairpur

Nand Lal0300-8314706

26 Rajani Traders Khajoor Anaj Mandi, Khairpur

Haresh Kumar0333-7583447

27 Rajesh Traders Khajoor Anaj Mandi, Khairpur

Seeromal0300-8310416

28 Sada Shew Traders Khajoor Anaj Mandi, Khairpur

Deleep Khumar0346-3422407

29 Sakhi Lal Traders 14- Khajoor & Anaj Market, Khairpur

Tajoo Mal0243-551954

30 Sangam Commission Shop

Khajoor Anaj Mandi, Khairpur

Kailash Kumar0300-8314316

31 Shandar Traders Khajoor Anaj Mandi, Khairpur

Hardass Mal0300-9318158

32 Siraj Commission Shop Khajoor Anaj Mandi, Khairpur

Siraj Ahmed0300-8319416

33 Sufi Traders 44- Khajoor & Anaj Market, Khairpur

Arjan Das0300-8310441

34 Supreme Dates International

Karamabad, Distt. Khairpur

Muhammad Ali Fecto0333-2481701

35 Suphi Commission Shop Khajoor Anaj Mandi, Khairpur

Arjan Mal0300-8310441

36 Tariq Traders Khajoor Anaj Mandi, Khairpur

Tariq Ahmed0334-2725289

37 Zee Dates International & Farm

Phulpoto Mohallah, Khairpur (Mirs)

Zubair Ahmed Phulpoto0300-3115288


140Date Crop

of Khairpur

1 Baroda Corporation NP.11/21, Daryana Street, Jodia Bazar, P.O. Box No. No. 6551, Karachi

021-746289021-746269021-746308021-746373

2 Canampak Date Industry (Pvt) Ltd.

204/205, 2nd Floor, Chapal Plaza, Hasrat Mohani Road, P.O. Box No. 6995, Karachi

021-2427338021-2427530021-2427339021-2416593

3 Farasat International 611-Uni Centre, I.I Chundrigar Road, Karachi

021-2415252021-2415251021-2413452

4 Farooq Ahmad Partnership Sakina House, Nasir Road, Sialkot

0432-5927900432-5875270432-587997

5 Farooq Associates 512-Uni Plaza, I.I. Chundrigar Road, Karachi

021-2419139021-2417922021-2635276

6 Haji Razak Janoo (Pvt) Ltd. Adam Bldg., Muhammad Feroz Street, Jodia Bazar, P.O. Box No. No.4299, Karachi

021-2419502021-2419315021-2418225021-2415209

7 Hesam & Sons Room No.610,6th Floor, Uni Shopping Centre, Saddar, Shahrah-e-Iraq, Karachi

021-5687373021-2624251

8 Imtiaz & Co. 229,A-B, Chowk Timber Market, Rahimyar Khan

0731-781360731-78136

9 International Multi Foods Ltd. 5th Floor, Kashif Centre, Shahrah-e-Faisal, Karachi

021-511763021-519972021-518209021-7774943021-5683010

10 Ispeeza Enterprises Jama Masjid Road, Turbat 0861-4133080861-4111540861-9409

11 Madina Corporation No.1, Adam Bldg, Muhammad Feroz St.,Jodia Bazar, Karachi

021-2434155021-2440426021-2431655

12 Masoom Ali Sons Gul Muhammad Street, Nanakwara, Karachi

021-7733825021-7729380021-7729513

13 New Ali Traders Shop No.38-43, Khajoor Mandi, Khairpur

0792-5519430792-5515540792-551943

Name Address ContactS.N

Annex F: List of prominent Date Exporters of Pakistan


14 Nutrica Foods International (Pvt) Ltd.

602,Kashif Centre, Shahrah-e-Faisal, Karachi

021-5662098021-516947021-5662054021-513565

15 Panama Impex Agency 204/205, 2nd Floor, Chappal Plaza, Hasrat Mohani Road, Karachi

021-2427530021-2427338021-2427339021-2416593

16 Qari Abdul Rahim & Sons (Pvt) Ltd.

41-43,4th Floor, Arkay Square, Shahrah-e-Liaquat, Karachi

021-2422773021-2421265021-2421653021-2419459

17 Shafiq & Co. 5/34, Arkay Square, Shahrah-e-Liaquat, Karachi

021-2428615021-2422432

18 Shama Fruit Co. #28, Agha Qudar Dad Zari Market, Sukkur

071-650403071-650457

19 Sindh Punjab International 301, Clifton Centre, Main Clifton Road, Karachi

021-5872864021-575411021-5855230021-5870446

20 Supreme International A-21-39, Karachi Centre, Sabzi Mandi, Off University Rd., Opp. New Town P.S., Karachi

021-4929871021-4929872021-4929872



142Date Crop

of Khairpur


Annex G: List of prominent Date Exporters of Pakistan

1 Ajeet Traders Shop#7,B, Agha Qadirabad Market, Sukkur

071-650243071-650243

2 Al-Madani International Sales R-799, Sector 16/A, Buffer Zone, Gulshan-e-Sir Syed, North Karachi

021-6981857

3 Al-Mahar Brothers Mohalla Seri Ghwar Khan, Mahar House, Khairpur

0243-552309

4 Al-Shahbaz Traders 13, Agha Qadir Dad Zari Market, Sukkur

071-650256071-650652071-22494071-650256

5 Al-Shahbaz Traders FL No. 303, Sadaf Square, Gul Mehar St., Garden East, Off Jahangir Road, Karachi

021-4914431

6 Amanullah Khan Gramkan, Panjgur 08293-63109308293-631367

7 Anwar Date Industries (Pvt) Ltd.

313, Panorama Centre-2, Raja Ghazanfar Ali Road, Karachi

021-5676004021-5676003

8 Baroda Corporation NP.11/21, Daryana Street, Jodia Bazar, P.O. Box No. #6551, Karachi

021-746286021-746269021-746308021-746373

9 Establishment International 313-A, Panorama Centre Bldg.#2, Raja Ghazanfar Ali Khan Road, Saddar, Karachi

021-5212275021-5651187021-5670118

10 Euro Asia 202, Light House Centre, M.A. Jinnah Road, Karachi

021-7230858021-7770512021-7720649021-7770512

11 Faiz Food Products Quarter No.1,City Hospital, Karachi

0243-4621

12 Famous Gift Centre Near Bus Stop, Habibabad, Therhi Sharif, Khairpur

0243-553938

13 Farasat International 611-Uni Centre, I.I. Chundrigar Road, Karachi

021-2415252021-2415251021-2413452


14 Farooq Associates 512-Uni Plaza, I.I. Chundrigar Road, Karachi

021-2419139021-2417922021-2635276

15 Farrukh Saeed & Co. 13/8, Firdous Colony, Gulbahar No.2, Nazimabad, Karachi

021-6683914

16 Ghulam Nabi Baloch Gramkan, Panjgur 08293-631204

17 Gomal University Gomal University, D.I Khan 0961-7503410961-714813

18 Haji Muhammad Akbar Baloch Govt. Degree College, Panjgur-93009

08293-62152708293-621540

19 Haji Niaz Jan Baloch Essai, Panjgur 08293-641644

20 Haji Razak Janoo (Pvt) Ltd. Adam Bldg., Muhammad Feroz Street, Jodia Bazar, P.O Box No.4299, Karachi

021-2419502021-2419315021-2418225021-2415209

21 Hesam & SonsthRoom No.610.6 Floor, Unni

Shopping Centre, Saddar, Shahrah-e-Iraq, Karachi

021-5687373021-5687373

22 Imtiaz & Co. 229/A-B,Chowk Timber Market, Rahim Yar Khan

0731-781360731-78136

23 Indus Valley Enterprises Room No.19, Press Centre, Shahrah-e-Kamal Attaturk, Karachi

021-6365410021-2629092021-2638059

24 International Multi Foods Ltd. th5 Floor, Kashif Centre, Shahrah-e-Faisal, Karachi

021-5211763021-5219972021-5218209021-7774943021-5683010

25 Ispeeza Enterprises Jama Masjid Road, Turbat 0861-4133080861-4111540861-9409

26 Kamran Food 24-B,SF-Unit Hub River, Karachi

021-296511021-2570157



144Date Crop

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dates crop khairpur

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