The ten-day 8th Local Dates Festival, organized by the Agricultural Affairs Department at the Ministry of Municipality and Souq Waqif, concluded its activities after seeing the participation of 100 local dates production farms and three fruit production farms.
The sales of dates reached around 219.760 kg of all varieties offered at the festival, which was visited by nearly 40,000 citizens, residents, and tourists.
The value of dates sold at the festival reached around QR 2 million. Meanwhile, the total quantity of sold fruits reached around 1,203 kilograms, including 855 kilograms of figs, 318 kilograms of almonds, and 30 kilograms of pomegranates.
Sales of fresh dates increased in the 8th edition of the festival by nearly 13 percent compared to the 7th edition, during which 195 tons were sold within 13 days, three days more than the 8th edition of the festival. Thus, the rate of increase compared to the period is estimated at around 33 percent.
The Dates Festival is a significant event in Doha that showcases the cultural, heritage, and economic importance of dates in Qatar. It is also an opportunity for visitors to learn about the various popular date varieties grown in the country.
The local Dates Festival is organized to establish an annual event that allows farm owners to exchange technical experiences. To ensure high-quality dates are sold, the festival's organizing committee has established technical requirements. These requirements include a thorough check for maturity, mold, live insects, and any abnormal smell or taste. To guarantee the safety of consumers, random samples of dates are regularly sent to laboratories in collaboration with the Ministry of Public Health to confirm that they are free of chemical pesticide residues.
The festival also aims to promote registered farm owners to find an outlet to display and market their date products, while also developing effective marketing strategies. It serves as a platform for educating citizens, residents, and tourists about local date production and the different varieties available. Given the significant role palm trees play in Qatari heritage and society, the festival aims to highlight their importance. Moreover, the event seeks to showcase the range of fruits that can be cultivated in Qatar's climate and encourage farm owners to share their experiences.
Source: Qatar News Agency