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A study on the export of Saudi Arabian dates in the global markets
Abstract
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is among the leading producers of quality dates where the per capita consumption of dates is highest in the world. We studied the global markets in terms of date importing and date exporting countries. Among the five groups of importing countries, the first group comprised of European Union, North America, Australia and New Zealand, group two comprised of Eastern Europe, Turkey and Russia, group three of the Gulf countries in the Middle-East including the States of Bahrain, Qatar, UAE and Kuwait, group four of the Arab States of Jordan, Syria, Morocco, Lebanon and Yemen while the fifth group from South Asia comprised of India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. The date exporting countries were categorized into three groups namely, the first group being USA, Mexico, South Africa and Israel, the second comprising of Egypt, Iran, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Iraq and Oman while the third group of exporting countries being Tunisia and Algeria. We calculated the average price of dates for each of the groups of importing and exporting countries and studied the status of Saudi Arabian dates in the global markets and their suitability for exports. Five potential strengths of Saudi Arabian dates were identified that may be used either individually or collectively to strengthen the exports of dates from the Kingdom in each of the five date importing groups of countries where we also determined the potential market opportunities.
... Saudi Arabia occupies the fi rst rank in the world in terms of average per capita consumption of dates, reaching 34.8 kg/year in 2003(Al-Shreed et al. 2012 ). ...
... In view of the increasing cultivation and surplus date production in the Kingdom, there is an emphasis on exports . Saudi Arabia exports dates to France, Germany, and India; Tunisia and Algeria are the potential competitors (Al-Shreed et al. 2012 ). Saudi Arabia exports only 48.8 mt of dates annually valued at a unit price of USD 0.83 per kg. ...
... Saudi Arabia exports only 48.8 mt of dates annually valued at a unit price of USD 0.83 per kg. In general, the potential strengths of exporting Saudi dates into international market can be summarized in the following: (a) existence of modern date palm plantations that can control the quality of dates at the upstream and traceability, (b) existence of cultivars with low demand in the Saudi market that meet international market requirements, (c) possibility to upgrade the exporting packing house to be more competitive with customer needs, (d) capacity of companies to launch new products (value addition) on the international market (e.g., frozen dates and pastries from dates), and (e) spiritual benefi ts of Saudi dates within the Muslim populations worldwide (Al-Shreed et al. 2012 ). ...
Date palm is a major crop significantly contributing to the agroecosystems in Saudi Arabia. There has been vast support and development in the agricultural sector in general and the date palm sector in particular during the last decades in Saudi Arabia. However, there are several challenges facing date cultivation, processing, and marketing. Such difficulties relate to water scarcity and salinity, soil erosion and desertification, insect pest infestations and disease, insufficient processing and packaging facilities and technologies, as well as a decline in date fruit demand. There is an enhancement in investment in world-class facilities and operations by leading date producers in Saudi Arabia. Large farms are prevalent in Saudi Arabia, and they are making substantial investments in new or replacement trees not in production signifying a further increase in production capacity; however, cultivar selection is generally not based on technical analyses such as yield, disease resistance, or water and fertilizers requirements. The aim of this chapter is to provide an overview of major recent aspects of the date palm in Saudi Arabia, a hot and arid region. Subjects discussed include fruit production, propagation, molecular and genetics descriptions, field management practices, entomology and pathology, postharvest handling, value-added products, commercial value, and nutrition and health benefits. Also presented are ways of minimizing the usage of nonrenewable natural resources as well as recent findings from research and development activities.
... Its annual productivity estimates are as high as 1 million tons of date fruits, with a value of US $500 million (FAOSTAT 2014). Of this, almost 50,000 tons of surplus dates are exported annually (Al-Shreed et al. 2012). Approximately 400 date palm varieties are grown in Saudi Arabia (Al-Fuhaid et al. 2006) and dates are one of the country's major crops. ...
... Among hundreds of cultivated date palm varieties in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Khodari date fruits, having a sweet taste, dark brown color, and dry texture, are among the most commonly exported date (Al-Shreed et al. 2012). They contain high levels of dietary fiber (60%), and the dried fruits have characteristic longitudinal fissures in their skin (Al-Khalifah et al. 2013), and also contain high amounts of antioxidants and phenolic compounds (Al-Jasass et al. 2015). ...
Postharvest almond moth (Cadra cautella Walker; Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) infestation is one of the primary challenges for production of dates, Phoenix dactylifera L. (Arecaceae) cv. Khodari. This study was a simulation of early almond moth infestations in uncontrolled storage conditions. It aimed to investigate the effects of low level almond moth infestations on the population growth of the moth, the damage to the dates, bacterial and fungal contamination, and the nutritional value of the dates. One, 2, and 3 pairs of male and female moths were introduced into 250 g Khodari date samples. Noninfested dates were used as controls. Each treatment was performed in 10 replicates. The results showed a more than 25-fold increase in the almond moth population and significant damage to the dates. The moth population in the 2 pair treatment was the highest. Moth infestation also increased microbial contamination by more than 3-fold compared with noninfested dates. The treatment of the 3 pairs of moths significantly increased the bacterial load more than 20-fold when compared to the control. The fungal contamination in the 2 and 3 pair treatments were more than 5-fold higher than that of the control. In contrast, the moth pairs did not significantly affect the sugar, protein, fiber, ash, or water contents of dates. The results suggest that infestation by a single pair of almond moths at the initial stage postharvest causes significant damage and contamination in Khodari dates.
... Saudi Arabia is considered the world's second-largest producer of dates as well as the leader in average per capita consumption of dates (Al-Shreed et al., 2012;Alsughayir, 2013;Intezar et al., 2016). Date palm is one of the oldest fruit trees in the world, with its origins dating back to 6000 B.C.E. ...
... Furthermore, the date palm tree and dates are particularly important in Saudi society, not only as a national food source but also because of its association with customs, traditions and social values. Around 28 million palm trees in Saudi Arabia produce more than 450 kinds of dates with an estimated annual production of a million tons of dates (Al-Shreed et al., 2012;Bushara et al., 2018). As such, the date palm is considered an important part of the country's economic development (Alshuaibi, 2011;Intezar et al., 2016). ...
Researchers have argued that family firm innovation is paradoxical in nature, in that family firms often display less innovation than their nonfamily counterparts, yet they are able to be more innovative. The aim of this article is to unpack this paradox by exploring how differences in family firms’ ability (discretion and resources) and willingness (economic and noneconomic) affect their innovation activities. We adopt a qualitative, interpretive methodology based on four case studies of Saudi family firms operating in the indigenous date industry. Our findings emphasize the importance of having all four sources of ability and willingness in order for innovation to occur and how, when the new generation enters the business, the family firm’s innovation posture changes to either ‘lagging’ or ‘reviving’. By exploring innovation in the date sector in Saudi Arabia, we contribute to the ability–willingness paradox by distinguishing between the different sources of ability and willingness and add to an emerging narrative that acknowledges the integration of past knowledge with new innovative practices as an important and unique mechanism by which family firms can harness innovation.
... It is essential to underscore the various avenues through which the export potential of Saudi dates can be enhanced. Al-Shreed et al. (2012) highlighted several relative advantages that Saudi dates possess, making them more appealing to global markets. These include the ability to provide high-quality products demanded by affluent nations, as well as the capacity to supply large quantities of lower-quality products to meet the demands of less affluent countries. ...
The dates export market in Saudi Arabia presents both opportunities and challenges for the agricultural sector. This paper examines the current state of the dates market in Saudi Arabia, highlighting key challenges such as water scarcity, climate change, quality control issues, market access barriers, and competition. It explores the role of technology in addressing these challenges and enhancing the competitiveness of Saudi dates in the global market. Various technological advancements, including precision agriculture tools, drip irrigation systems, mechanized harvesting equipment, post-harvest technologies, traceability systems, and digital marketing strategies, are discussed in detail. By leveraging these technologies, Saudi date farmers and exporters can improve productivity, efficiency, quality, and market reach. The paper concludes by emphasizing the importance of strategic investment in technology and innovation to unlock the full potential of the dates export market in Saudi Arabia, driving economic growth and sustainable development in the agricultural sector.
... Dates are the main source of foreign currency among agricultural commodities (Alhaj, 2021), as locally produced dates greatly exceed the needs of the population, allowing the surplus to be exported to foreign markets. Iraq named among group two with Egypt, Iran, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, UAE, and Oman, in exporting dates (Al-Shreed et al. 2012) Iraq is the only country of rare varieties of palm trees, which has led the country to be a source for the export of palm shoots to the countries of the region, especially to the Arabian Gulf Countries (Planning, 2015). However, the palm orchards have suffered from accumulated neglect during the past due to the lack of care by their owners due to the fact that the prices of dates remained at a low level. ...
Consumption of dates and their products in Iraq has been increased notably in last years as a result of many factors, the most relevant is the increase of the production of dates in all Iraqi provinces, and their availability in the local market at reasonable price met the desire of the Iraqi consumer for shopping, as well as the nutritional habits of the Iraqi consumer who eating dates and their products in different seasons of the year. Marketing of dates and offering their products in the shops and by hawkers attracts also the Iraqi consumer for shopping. The financial support presented by the government through the Ministry of Agriculture to date manufacturers played a good role to establish many new factories for dates and their products in the country especially date molasses, which consumes too much by the Iraqi consumer. All these factors contributed to increase the production and consumption of dates and their products, and open the way to export of the surplus to the global markets after being manufactured under international quality and safety food standards.
... Weak export activities are also an issue as Saudi Arabian dates are valued at a unit price of USD 0.83/kg on the international market in comparison to Israel, South America, and North America whose dates are valued at 5. 53, 6.17, and 5.38 USD, respectively (Al-Shreed et al. 2012). This can be combated by opening new marketing channels, upgrading export packing houses to be more competitive with the needs of the consumer, and the use of low-quality dates in conversion industries (syrups, molasses, biscuits, etc.) (El-Juhany 2010;Al-Abdoulhadi et al. 2011a, 2011bAl-Shreed et al. 2012;Habba & Mulhim 2013). While the handling, storage, packing, and transport of dates could be considerably improved through cooperative societies and extension services that could assist in meeting the demands of post-harvest, preparation, processing, and marketing (El-Juhany 2010). ...
One of the major crops produced in Saudi Arabia is the date palm tree, Phoenix dactylifera L., as it can tolerate the harsh desert climate. One of the largest palm production areas in Saudi Arabia is the Al-Hassa oases, it has approximately 3 million date palms. However, by the end of the 21st century (2071–2100), climate change impacts will create a strain on the date production industry in the Al-Hassa region. Therefore, current practices need to be altered and various strategies must be adopted as changing the industry or moving regions are not viable options. This paper examines the impact of possible global warming based on various general circulation models, regional climate models, and scenarios developed by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Special Report on Emission Scenarios on the climate in Al-Hassa by mid and end of the century. This paper discusses how these effects may impact date production and its distribution in the study area based on the resources available and on an individual, community, regional, national, and global scale. Possible options for sustaining the industry and what barriers or limitations may be faced by the proposed adaptation measures are discussed in this paper. HIGHLIGHTS
There are no current studies specific to climate change effects on date production in Al-Hassa.;
The region presents a unique challenge as it has springs and aquifers.;
Actions need to be made to conserve agricultural production as there are not many other local production.;
Prospects for better water management and agricultural practices need to be addressed.;
Dates are one of the most important socioeconomic crops in Saudi Arabia.;
... Figure (1) shows the 13 geographical regions that contain various cultivars of date palm. According to Al-Shreed et al. [11], Saudi Arabia has the highest per capita consumption of dates in the world, which reached to nearly 35 kg per person per ...
The main agricultural product in Saudi Arabia is the date palm, it has been playing a significant role in the daily life of the people in the Middle East and North Africa for the last seven thousand years. Saudi Arabia is the third-largest global producer of dates, while Egypt occupies the number of one position as the largest date producer across the world. the total production of date in 2018 in Saudi Arabia was reported at 1,399,762 metric tonnes in 2018 from an estimated 30,429,607 trees, which were cultivated in an estimated area of 155,118 hectares. Using a case study in the Riyadh region of Saudi Arabia, the use of biomass from date palm was investigated. It was demonstrated that this material may provide a feasible sustainable energy supply in Saudi Arabia. The total quantity of potential biomass generated from the residues of date palm in the Riyadh region to produce energy would be 865 x 106 tonnes per year. The overall potential to recover energy from the residues of date palm was forecasted to be 15.63 PJ per year
... Also, value chain analysis and marketing opportunities for date palms in GCC countries were studied by Dhehibi., Salah, and Frija (2018) while the efficiency of date marketing was investigated by Ismaiel, Al-Abdulkader, Al-Kahtani, and Saad (2017), Alabdulkader, Elhendy, Al Kahtani, and Ismail (2017) and Al-Abdulkader et al. (2016). Al-Shreed et al. (2012) investigated export markets for Saudi dates and potential opportunities. The comparative competitive advantage for the export of dates was studied by Ali, Fahad, and El-Habbab (2014). ...
Dates represent an important export crop for Saudi Arabia that attracts foreign exchange. There is an opportunity for Saudi Arabia to extend its date exports to the international market due to production exceeding consumption and comparative advantage in date production. This paper explores the future export market for Saudi dates by analyzing the factors that affect Saudi date exports and highlighting this crop’s comparative advantage. Also, the paper uses autoregressive and distributed lag methodology with data from 1980 to 2017 to predict the future for exported dates between 2020 and 2025. The relationship between the export of dates and other exogenous variables shows there are significant effects from domestic production, domestic consumption of dates, and the price of exported dates in both the long and short term. In contrast, the comparative advantage of Saudi dates shows a significant effect only in the short term, because there has been no active program to promote Saudi dates in global markets. The explanatory variables predict that 2019 Saudi date exports will increase by 3.8-fold in 2025, with the total export amount over 700 thousand tons. Thus, there is an opportunity to develop more programs that target the international market in support of date farms and exporters, and to support market research directed at satisfying the international market.
... Many researches focused on different aspects of palm date chemical composition of (Al-Hooti et al., 1997;Al-Shahib and Marshall, 2003;AlFarsi et al., 2007;El-Sohaimy and Hafez, 2010;Ahmed et al., 2013;Tang et al., 2013). Other researchers focused on production (Al-Shreed et al., 2012;Al-Abbad et al., 2011;El-Juhany, 2010;Ministry of Agriculture, 2006) or fruit characteristic (Al-Asmari et al., 2017;Al-Abdoulhadi et al., 2011;Rahman, 2013). The justification of this research is related to the steady increase in Saudi populations, which led to the increase in date palm consumption. ...
Date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) is consumed since the ancient era in the Arab region, particularly in Saudi Arabia. This study aims to assess the consumption of dates, its association with obesity in addition to estimate the nutrient indices of consumed dates among Saudi population in Al Ahsa region. Household Saudi males and females (n=477) were involved in this study. They were classified into three groups; children (n=46), Adolescents (n=72) and Adults (n=359). Data on anthropometric measurements, socioeconomic factors, and consumption of dates were collected from the respondents. Some nutrients of dates were analyzed to calculate the indices of energy, carbohydrates, non- starch polysaccharides (NSPs) in addition to determine some minerals and vitamin contents. The obtained results indicated that adolescents followed by adults consumed the highest amount of dates. The results also revealed that the consumed dates could secure about fourth of the recommended daily requirement of potassium and the fifth of both magnesium and NSPs. Moreover, the study found that obese persons dates consumption was the highest in comparison to underweight and normal weigh respondents (p<0.05), however; the correlation between dates consumption and body mass index (BMI) was low. The study confirmed the importance of daily consumption of dates in securing some minerals and indicated that dates consumption is not responsible for weight gaining.
... Many researches focused on different aspects of palm date chemical composition of (Al-Hooti et al., 1997;Al-Shahib and Marshall, 2003;AlFarsi et al., 2007;El-Sohaimy and Hafez, 2010;Ahmed et al., 2013;Tang et al., 2013). Other researchers focused on production (Al-Shreed et al., 2012;Al-Abbad et al., 2011;El-Juhany, 2010;Ministry of Agriculture, 2006) or fruit characteristic (Al-Asmari et al., 2017;Al-Abdoulhadi et al., 2011;Rahman, 2013). The justification of this research is related to the steady increase in Saudi populations, which led to the increase in date palm consumption. ...
Date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) is consumed since the ancient era in the Arab region, particularly in Saudi Arabia. This study aims to assess the consumption of dates, its association with obesity in addition to estimate the nutrient indices of consumed dates among Saudi population in Al Ahsa region. Household Saudi males and females (n=477) were involved in this study. They were classified into three groups; children (n=46), Adolescents (n=72) and Adults (n=359). Data on anthropometric measurements, socioeconomic factors, and consumption of dates were collected from the respondents. Some nutrients of dates were analyzed to calculate the indices of energy, carbohydrates, non- starch polysaccharides (NSPs) in addition to determine some minerals and vitamin contents. The obtained results indicated that adolescents followed by adults consumed the highest amount of dates. The results also revealed that the consumed dates could secure about fourth of the recommended daily requirement of potassium and the fifth of both magnesium and NSPs. Moreover, the study found that obese persons dates consumption was the highest in comparison to underweight and normal weigh respondents (p<0.05), however; the correlation between dates consumption and body mass index (BMI) was low. The study confirmed the importance of daily consumption of dates in securing some minerals and indicated that dates consumption is not responsible for weight gaining.
... The date palm Phoenix dactylifera is a tropical and subtropical tree, with many varieties being popularly cultivated in hot desert regions, especially those within the confines of the Gulf Cooperation Council (Chandrasekaran and Bahkali 2013) with Saudi Arabia being the largest exporter of palm dates worldwide (Al-Shreed et al. 2012). Further information on palm date production can be found in Manickavasagan et al. (2012). ...
The presence of natural radionuclides in the food chain point to a need to assess concentration levels and concomitant radiological risk. Highly popular and forming a staple part of the diet in North Africa, the Arabian Peninsula, and West Asia, palm dates growing naturally there have even greater marketability than simple satisfaction of domestic demand, the palm dates representing a valuable export item. Accurate knowledge of the levels of natural radioactivity in the fruit is thus of importance. In this study, using high-purity germanium gamma-ray spectrometry, quantification has been made of natural radionuclide concentrations in imported dates originating from Iran, Saudi Arabia, and Tunisia. Sample analyses reveal respective mean activity concentrations of 1.4 ± 0.3, 0.8 ± 0.4, and 186 ± 9 Bq kg ⁻¹ dry weight for ²²⁶ Ra, ²²⁸ Ra, and ⁴⁰ K. For each nuclide, the mean concentration varies little between the dates of the three represented regions. The estimated committed effective dose resulting from the consumption of date fruits for a typical adult was found to be 29.9 μSv y ⁻¹ , well below the global internal dose of 290 μSv y ⁻¹ assessed by the United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation to be due to food and water intake. Similarly, the excess lifetime cancer risk due to naturally occurring radioactive material exposure via date fruit consumption is seen to be below the International Commission on Radiological Protection cancer risk factor of 2.5 × 10 ⁻³ based on the additional annual dose limit of 1 mSv for a member of the general public. The results show no significant uptake in the analyzed date fruits.
... In 2013, date production in Saudi Arabia reached 1,065, 032 tons, from 3·7 million trees (Assirey 2015; Allbed et al., 2017). However, few studies have also showed that the Kingdom occupies the fi rst rank in the world in terms of average per capita consumption of dates per year, which reached 34.8 kg/year in 2003 (Al Shreed et al., 2012). Date fruits have great importance in human nutrition owing to their rich content of essential nutrients which include carbohydrates sugar ranging from 65% to 80% on dry weight basis mostly of inverted form (glucose and fructose). ...
Date fruits are an imperative crop, especially cultivated in the hot-arid regions of the world having extraordinary nutritional and therapeutic value. In this study, we performed nutritional profiling and mineral analysis of different varieties of date fruits cultivated in north-western region of Saudi Arabia. Among the sample tested, we found that moisture contents was highest in Helwah Hail (23.83±0.49%) and Berhi (23.20±0.10%). Moreover, ash and protein content was found to be more in Ajwah (2.50±0.53%) and Hamra (4.34±0.06%) respectively. Similarly, total fibre percentage of the tested sample varied from 4.35±0.05% to 5.13±0.12% and monosaccharaides was found highest in Helwah Hail and Deglet Shewaish. However, mineral analysis showed that Ajwah date fruits, Asilah, Nabtat Saif and Barni had high amount of calcium, magnesium, sodium and potassium respectively. The present finding helps in understanding the nutritional status and significance of different date varieties cultivated in north-western region of Saudi Arabia (Hail Region). However, lesser known varieties can be improved through better horticulture practices as a valuable product. Further, this study reveals that, the consumption of these date fruits would have several nutritional health effects.
... The comparison of export percentage of the domestic production and global exports is 6.8 and 8.7%, respectively, and the average unit price of the export is USD 1065 per mt (El-Habba and Al-Mulhim 2013). Saudi Arabia has quality dates for export to the international market, thanks to the presence of advanced date palm plantations which control the quality of dates, the presence of elite cultivars which meet the international market needs, companies with advanced technologies to launch innovative products, upgraded packing systems to the international market and finally the date is consider as a holy fruit among Muslim populations worldwide (Al-Shreed et al. 2012). Some of the important technical aspects should be taken into account in exporting dates viz. ...
Date palm is one of the oldest cultivated plants, grown in the arid and semiarid regions of the world. The date fruit serves as a vital worldwide component of the human diet and a staple food for millions of people. Unfortunately, various abiotic and biotic stresses along with agronomic constraints are hindering date productivity. Those date cultivars adapted to stress conditions have low fruit production. Conventional breeding, depending on crosses and backcrosses, is a time-consuming process. The applied research carried out on date palm is limited, still there is enormous potential to improve date palm breeding methods. Advanced biotechnology creates unparalleled opportunities to develop new varieties with quality fruit, increased fruit yield and resistance to pests and pathogens. It also minimizes the application of potentially-harmful fungicides and pesticides and increases crop productivity. This chapter provides current and innovative information about date palm progress in terms of distribution, production, marketing strategy, current achievements, limitations and challenges facing date palm breeding. It also focuses on recent advances in tissue culture, genetic transformation and molecular breeding to improve the productivity and quality of the date.
... The date palm is one of the oldest fruit trees [5,1,15]. The botanical name of date palm, Phoenix dactylifera L., is presumably derived from a Phoenician name "Phoenix" which means date palm, and "dactylifera" is derived from a Greek word daktulos meaning a finger, illustrating the fruits' form [25]. Dactylifera Phoenix is a palm in the genus Phoenix [37]. ...
Since antiquity, the date palm selection concerned only the female trees and never male ones, which called locally " Dokkars " , in spite of their influence on the quality and the quantity of date production. A collection of palm trees from " Daouia " Agricultural Exploitation Company situated in Oued Souf, Algeria was studied during 2013. The laboratory physiological features (pollen viability by the vital coloring test and " in vitro " germination test), and the palm trees characteristics according to farmers (localization, maturity, production of spathes also pollen and pollen quality) were investigated. The obtained results showed the existence of a high variability in the physiological markers between the various pollen types, which reflects the great diversity of the " Dokkars ". The pollen viability for the majority of palm trees was always higher than 75%, therefore, they considered of good quality. The farmers' observations concerning the descriptive characteristics of the palm trees are regarded as a complement of the study conducted in the laboratory. The factorial correspondence analysis showed the existence of correlation between the studied characteristics and the quality of pollen as well as the repartition of male date palms into three categories; good, fair and bad. The goal of this study is to select, on the level of " Daouia " station, the best male palm trees presenting a good genetic potential in order to multiply them vegetatively.
Diversity in date palm (DP) cultivars plays a crucial role in the agroecosystems of several countries, such as the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). This study aims to map and analyze the spatial distribution of the most grown DP cultivars (Khlas, Ruziz, and Shishi) in the Al-Ahsa oasis in the KSA and to highlight their spatial correlation with the corresponding cultivated patches within farms. Descriptive and spatial data on 288 farms were analyzed using GIS, data curation, cross-TAB statistics, clustering maps, and spatial autocorrelation techniques. The obtained results revealed that most of the oasis’s DP farms are within a cultivated area of <500 m2. The larger cultivated areas are mostly in the oasis’s northern and central subregions, agreeing with the spatial distribution of trees. In total, 56.9% of the studied farms grew the cultivars together within the least rank (<500 m2) of cultivated area, having the greatest tendency for DP cultivation. Khlas was the most dominant cultivar being the least absent from cultivation with 3.1% compared to Ruziz (31.9%) and Shishi (37.8%). The spatial distribution of DP plantations in the oasis was also consistent with the spatial variation in soils and irrigation water salinity, necessitating the need for special agricultural extension programs. In conclusion, these outcomes indicate that this study is essential for DP sustainability, growers, authorities, and policy makers.
A ‘Target Marketing’ approach may be suitable for achieving a competitive edge by date palm sellers and overcoming the difficulties like seasonality, high volumes, intense competition, and income stagnancy. Michael Porter’s Diamond Model has been applied to check the capacity and dependency of date palm producing countries on different determinants in the process of getting a competitive edge. The results confirm the need of product diversification and target marketing approach. Offering innovative premium products to the quality conscious segments and developing new date-based minimally processed foods, processed culinary ingredients and ready-to-consume processed foods and beverages as substitutes to unhealthy ultra-processed products will benefit the marketers and the consumers both. Producing value-added premium products and adopting appropriate marketing methods with promotional campaigns will lead to healthy food habits and also stimulate preferences for these items. A coordinated effort will give the date industry a sustainable growth and the people a healthy life. © 2018, Statistical Economic and Social Research and. All rights reserved.
Date palm is one of the holy trees in Syria due to its cultural significance, in addition to its economic and environmental benefits. It is cultivated in the arid regions of the country around Palmyra and in some eastern areas along the Euphrates Basin. The Ministry of Agriculture and Agrarian Reform designed a plan for developing the date palm tree in Syria beginning in 1986 when it defined the optimal belt for this tree according to the environmental requirements of its cultivation and production. This belt constitutes about one-third of the total area of Syria and it includes the majority of the Syrian Badia lands. Since 1986, centers for date palm propagation have been established in provinces within the belt, focusing on elite lines and cultivars to collect offshoots from both elite lines and native and introduced cultivars to serve as mother orchards for selected genetic resources which are propagated to generate offshoots to be cultivated in suitable regions of the country. The Ministry of Agriculture also encouraged farmers to plant date palm within the specified belt to expand its cultivation area. Added to the various cultivars that are propagated within the date palm belt area, there are a set of lines of seedling origin in the Palmyra oasis and orchards that are being characterized for adoption as promising local Syrian cultivars. More research should be carried out for DNA-fingerprinting of date palm cultivars grown in Syria and their propagation by tissue culture.
The study focus on testing the determinants of competitive advantage of dates marketing from Saudi Arabia through multi- regression model based on Porter’s diamond, which is determined the factor that affecting on competitiveness of nations in international marketing, such as factor conditions, demand conditions, related and supporting industries, and company strategy; structure; and rivalry. Our study selected the most competitive countries for Saudi Arabia in marketing dates in its markets (like Egypt, Iraq, and Tunisia). The results of study showed that the four determinants are significant and R square is high more than 95% in all equations this is agree with our assumptions, but the signs parameters of these determinants are different from our expectations specially with the quantity of production in Saudi Arabia which appear negative with the value of export of dates from KSA, that is because the consumption of dates in domestic market is high and it absorbs the high quality kind of dates, which is needed for external market. We tested also the same determinants for the competitive countries (Egypt, Iraq, and Tunisia); we found the same results, except Egypt, which have huge domestic demand that is effect on demand conditions in this country. Our study suggested more studies are needed for related and supporting industries of dates with this crop, to save data base in this field, and give more attention for quality of dates, packaging and prices for Saudi exporting of dates.
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