@FAOEG - : Dates producers from Al Wahat Al Bahreia at the end of the FAO first training program

Al Wahat al Bahriya, Egypt, 12 April 2017

As part of the strategy for the development of the Date Palm sector in Egypt, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) concluded the first training session for Date producers in Al Wahat Al Bahriya. The training was part of the Technical Cooperation Programme (TCP) on the Date value chain, signed with the Ministry of Trade and Industry, and the Ministry of Agriculture and Land Reclamation.

The first in a series of training workshops that will be held successively for Date producers to promote best practice in the sector, the workshop focused on pollination and the servicing of the palm tree head.

"The first training workshop for Date producers helped raise awareness among farmers, agricultural advisers, and manufacturers of the importance of pollination, pest control, and servicing the head of the palm tree in scientific ways and in accordance with best international practices," said FAO Assistant Representative in Egypt, Mohammed Yacoub. "The workshop is part of the training activities of the TCP on the development of the date value chain, which is one of 16 projects that the strategy for the development of date palms in Egypt had identified."

FAO launched the first training programme for Date producers last month following the great response that the strategy for the development of date palms received from Egyptian government officials. Date producers in Siwa Oasis, Al Wahat Al Bahriya, and the New Valley received the training, which was held in cooperation and coordination with all Date sector stakeholders in Egypt.

Tayseer Abdul Fattah, head of Al Wahat al Bahriya Center and City, commented: "The FAO training programme addresses the main problems that the Dates and palm sector in Al Wahat al Bahriya suffers from. The Date sector is the backbone of the city's population, and if the FAO instructions are followed, all problems will be solved and the quality of Dates will be greatly improved." He noted that Al Wahat al Bahriya is working to organise a major conference for all stakeholders - producers, manufacturers, and exporters of Dates as well as agricultural and other nongovernmental organizations - to agree on a new system promoting modern and technological practices.

The strategy for the development of Date Palms in Egypt seeks to raise exports from the current 38 000 tons to 120 000 tons annually over the next five years and increase the average export price from the current USD 1000 per tonne to USD 1500 over the same period. This would increase related hard currency revenues for the Egyptian state budget from USD 40 million at present to USD 180 million. The strategy also seeks to intensify local marketing activities, increase exports of unprocessed Dates, benefit from Date by-products and waste, and create new job opportunities.