RIYADH: Saudi Arabia Minister for Environment, Water, and Agriculture Eng. Abdulrahman Al-Fadhli highlighted the significant contribution of the date palm industry, reported Saudi Press Agency on Wednesday.
He said that more than 200 million palm trees spanning 1.5 million hectares annually yield an impressive 9.7 million tons of dates. This production is concentrated primarily in the Middle East and North Africa region, he said.
During the third session of the International Dates Council in Riyadh, attended by agriculture ministers and representatives from global companies involved in date production and importation, Al-Fadhli emphasized the global impact of date exports. He noted that 40 countries contribute to the export of 1.8 million tons of dates, generating substantial revenue of $2.3 billion.
In a forward-looking move, Al-Fadhli announced that the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has embraced Saudi Arabia’s proposal to designate 2027 as the International Year of Date Palm. This initiative aims to raise awareness of the pivotal role of the palm and dates sector in sustainable rural agricultural development and food security.
The minister also expressed optimism that the meeting would lead to resolutions strengthening the council’s governance, enabling it to efficiently fulfill its role.
