MME hosts field trip on drying dates

The Agricultural Research Department at the Ministry of Municipality and Environment (MME) has conducted a field trip on how to dry dates. The participants visited the Agricultural Research Station in Rawdat Al Faras as part of the State’s interest in palm trees, dates and in support of its production. The session included a detailed explanation of the mechanism of drying dates since the beginning of the harvest (season), in addition to training on the correct drying procedures. It also introduced farmers and owners of national farms that produce dates to the latest drying methods.Director of the Agricultural Research Department Hamad Sakit al-Shammari said the trip was aimed at introducing farmers to the techniques of drying dates and marked a continuation of the Local Dates Festival organised recently by the ministry. He said the activity also aimed to preserve and increase the quantity of dates produced in the country and maximise the benefits. Hassan Ibrahim al-Asmakh, head of the plant research department, said the main aim of organising such an activity was to reduce imports and increase national dates production (and thereby support the country’s economy) and introduce farmers and farm owners to the unique techniques of drying dates through the use of specialised chambers.