Date palms are considered part of the family, says one farmer who looks after nearly 1,200 trees “with his own hands.”
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Release date: Saturday, July 27, 2024 9:41 AM
Every year, farmers in the north of the country eagerly await the date festival where they can showcase and sell their produce. Omar Al Hammadi is one of many gardeners who looks forward to taking part in the festival every year.
“We start preparations in January by fertilizing the palms. In February, the male palms produce pollen which we sprinkle on the female flowers or tie by hand,” said Al Hammadi, who has a farm in Ras Al Khaimah.
Al Hammadi, who works in Abu Dhabi, goes to the farm every weekend with his family to look after around 1,200 palm trees. “In our culture, we consider date palms to be part of the family and it is essential that we look after them with our own hands,” he said, adding that the first harvest will be ready in July.
The eighth Al Dhayd Dates Festival kicked off at Expo Al Dhayd on Thursday and is scheduled to run until July 28. Organised by the Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI), the festival will see a large participation of producing families of palm owners, farmers, businessmen and industrialists from across the UAE.
During the festival, most participants sell more than 300 kg of dates each day.
“This is not just about selling, but showcasing different types of dates, which are a rich part of our culture and tradition,” Al Hammadi said.
With more than 35 varieties of locally grown dates on display this season, the festival has become a festive event for Emirati families. “Before 1990, local farmers would display their produce in each town’s market, and townspeople would visit them to view the dates and buy them,” said Saeed Al-Darmaki, who visited the festival with his family.
“We don’t just enjoy the dating exhibition, we celebrate it,” Aldarmaki said.
At the festival, local farmers will also be displaying other produce including a variety of fruits such as mangoes, lemons, papayas, bananas and figs.
Palm owners and farmers across Sharjah and other emirates are eager to take part in the festival’s competitions, where valuable prizes will be awarded to 130 winners in various categories.
Major competitions at this festival, now in its eighth year, include the “Best Lemon”, “Fig Contest” and “Most Beautiful Home-grown Date Palm” (women only).
Festival-goers can admire the incredible collection of handicrafts and various fruits on display; highlights include masterpieces made from dried leaves such as date palms. The festival also features intricately woven baskets, ornaments, and traditional crafts, all showcasing the region’s rich cultural heritage.
The Al Dhayd Dates Festival 2024 will offer a range of activities highlighting the UAE’s deep-rooted palm-growing traditions and will be open to the public daily from 7am to 10pm.