November 4, 2002	Monday	Sha’aban 28,1423

Dates have immense nutritive value and have been found to support the immunity system, stages of growth and helps in preventing physical and mental fatigue and mineral deficiency. These have been held in high esteem in almost all cultures and religions of the world. In view of all this, dates are called the ‘fruit of life.’

There have been tremendous advancements in its processing. At a typical processing factory, farmers bring already graded dates in plastic trays of uniform size, which is inspected for quality, and after weighing, the consignment is fumigated in completely sealed chambers. For fumigation, usually methyl bromide is used at the concentration of one pound per 1000 cubic feet for 24 hours. Chloropicrin is also added to the methyl bromide at the rate of 2 per cent. Fumigated dates are placed in cold storage at 5-10c temperature for a minimum period of 10-14 days. At this temperature, these could be stored for about 2 years.

For further processing dates are transferred to feeding line elevator and automatically dumped over a shaker for preliminary washing. The shaker is provided with water sprays to remove dust, sand and other foreign matter. These are then passed over a conveyor for manual sorting and grading by factory workers. During the process inferior quality dates are picked up and separated from the superior ones and are finally washed in washing machines, using fresh water mixed with chlorine. Hot air blast is supplied to remove excess water. These are then packed as per orders, varying from 20kg lose bulk packs to 100gm consumer pack. Inferior quality dates are further processed into different products such as syrup, paste, alcohol, vinegar, etc.

The most important attribute is the zero wastage in this fruit. Even the pits (date seeds) have tremendous commercial value. At times, they get more price than the dates. A highly valued-added products — tea/coffee — is prepared from the date seed kernels, when the outer hard shell of the seeds is separated from them.

The global production of dates was 5,190,087 tons in 2000. As much as 90 per cent of world dates come from top 10 producers. And, contributions made by the first four — Iran, Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan — is about 60 per cent.

Date production in Pakistan has more than doubled during the last five years, rising from 0.284 million tons in 1991-95 to 0.579 million tons in 2000. Scores of date varieties cultivated in Pakistan are commercially important. Of these Aseel of Khairpur (Mir’s), Muzawati of Panjgur, Dhaki of D.I. Khan and Begum Jungi of Turbat are some of the best varieties in the world. Aseel is the most renowned and versatile of all date varieties in Pakistan. This variety is soft, large in size, oval in shape, brown in colour. It has an excellent taste. The variety preserves its normal shape and form, and maintains its wholesomeness. Muazwati is a very soft and chewing date. Its colour is glossy dark brown. It has a very good taste. Dhakki is long and large in size, oval shaped, light brown. It is quite soft and has a very small pit. The variety is of a superior quality. Begum Jangi is medium in size and good in quality.

Pakistan enjoys a robust position in international date market. Among over a dozen competitors in a highly sophisticated market like the USA, Pakistan ranks the first. Similarly, in China and Nepal Pakistan is on the top. In Nepal, we have no rival. Again, in markets like Canada and Denmark, we are at the second position. In Bangladesh and South Africa, we are the fourth. Our position in Australia is the fifth. We rank sixth in the UK and Germany.

There is a tremendous scope for expansion in export of dates. So far, we have been able to export about 13.79 per cent of our total production. There is a need to realize the potential and the following measures are suggested.

i) Date factories: The present status of this industry is of a cottage industry. At this level it is not in a position to scientifically process even one-forth of dates grown in the country. There is a need for at least three modern factories to be set up, one each at Khairpur (Mirs), Turbat and D.I. Khan, the major date growing centre in Pakistan. In the present circumstances, while the private sector is shy, the concerned provincial governments should come forward to create corporations in Sindh, Balochistan and the NWFP and set up sophisticated factories in respective areas. Loans could be obtained from the Islamic Development Bank, Jeddah. Applications for loans shall have to be moved through the State Bank of Pakistan. The district governments of Khairpur (Mirs), Turbat and D.I. Khan should also play a proactive role in this regard.

ii) Display-cum-sales centres: In order to develop the visibility of our date brands and make the customers aware of the excellent quality of Pakistani dates, permanent display-cum-sales centres may be established at Dubai, Doha, Istanbul, Kuala Lumpur and Jakarta. These centres, however, shall have to be self-sufficient. iii) Dry port at Khairpur: Date produced in Khairpur (Mirs) have a major share in exports. Without, the dry port facility in the main date growing area, trucks take dates meant for export to Karachi or Lahore. From there, these are loaded in containers for shipment to their destinations. This unnecessarily increases the cost and makes our dates less competitive. Khairpur (Mirs) is ideally located on the main railway line and the National Highway.