With the beginning of July, the season of reaping the fruits of the palm tree (Khunaizi) began. This palm tree is grown in all the northern governorates of the Sultanate of Oman.
Al Khunaizi is considered one of the common varieties in Oman’s farms. It is distinguished by its delicious taste, and many farmers use it in the production of molasses or what is called date honey.
As an Omani proverb says, "I have no pleasure other than Al Khunaizi," the dates are delicious in its own way.
Official statistics indicate that the number of trees of this type of palm exceeds 440,826 palm trees distributed in all the wilayats. The average production of one palm tree is 46.58 kg. The Sultanate’s production of the Khunaizi variety is approximately 20,000 tonnes, which is equivalent to 5.69 per cent of the total production of dates in the Sultanate of Oman.
This palm begins flowering in February, and the date of harvesting its fruits begins with the beginning of July. Health studies indicate that the sugar (glucose) content of the fruits of this palm is about 86 per cent of the dry weight. It contains 3.6 per cent of proteins, 0.56 per cent of fats and 4.58 per cent of pectins.
The fruits of this variety also contain important mineral elements such as potassium, phosphorus, magnesium, iron, zinc, manganese and sodium.
The fruits of this palm tree are distinguished by their red colour, and there are more than 440,000 palm trees that produce about 20,535 tonnes annually.
The date palm is the first crop in the Sultanate in terms of population, spread, and an integrated agricultural and environmental system. It has great importance in the lives of Omanis throughout the ages. The Sultanate is making great efforts to maximise the economic, social and environmental returns of palm trees. Date palm represents 82.6 per cent of the areas of other fruit crops.
The Sultanate is widely cultivated with more than 250 varieties of palm trees. One of the most important characteristics of these varieties is the great variation in their quality, the nature of their consumption, in addition to the difference in their productivity, annual growth rate and disease resistance.
Some sources indicate that some varieties of Omani dates are comparable in quality to some of the famous varieties in the world, and each governorate of the Sultanate is famous for certain varieties.
At this time every year, the buying and selling activities of fresh Omani dates increase in the Omani markets, which are locally called (Al Ratab). The colours of these products vary between yellow and red, and this indicates the diversity of quality and taste at the same time.
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