Date Palm Pollination Season Commences In Al-Jouf With Over 980,000 Trees Under Care

In Al-Jouf Region, farmers have started the annual date palm pollination season. This manual process, known locally as "palm pollination," involves transferring pollen from male to female palms to ensure fruit production. Ahmed Al-Arfaj, a date farmer, explained that this period usually spans from February to the end of April. Farmers personally handle pollination to guarantee high-quality dates.

The pollination process begins with extracting and drying male pollen into a powder. Farmers then place four male inflorescences into the female palm's pollen receptacle. Traditional tools are used, including a sharp knife-like trimmer for removing thorns and wicker baskets made from palm fronds to carry pollen while climbing.

Al-Jouf farmers employ traditional thinning methods to improve fruit quality. They reduce date clusters from over ten to about five per tree. This technique helps concentrate nutrients, enhancing the size and quality of the remaining dates. Such practices are deeply rooted in family traditions and are passed down through generations.

Following pollination, "palm dusting" is performed by spraying a special powder on the palms. This step protects the pollen from pests, increasing both success rates and yields. The region is renowned for preserving family-based manual farming practices, especially on smaller farms and around home-surrounding palm trees.

The General Authority for Statistics reports that Al-Jouf has over 980,000 palm trees, with 798,649 being fruit-bearing. These trees produce approximately 43,203 tons of dates annually. Of this yield, around 34,045 tons are sold locally, underscoring the palm tree's vital economic and cultural role in the region.

Palm care traditions in Al-Jouf are not only agricultural but also social customs deeply ingrained in the community's way of life. These practices highlight the significant cultural heritage associated with date farming in this area.

With inputs from SPA