Sana'a: In a qualitative step aimed at contributing to achieving sustainable development, the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Water Resources launched at the beginning of the month of Ramadan the national initiative for planting and cultivating date pits, forming an important lever to support the agricultural sector and enhance its role in food security.
According to Yemen News Agency, the initiative, launched under the slogan "Today's Pit is Tomorrow's Palm Tree," represents a scientific model and an important transformation in the path of developing the palm sector in Yemen. It seeks to transform the small pit remaining from the iftar table into a long-term development project, aimed at expanding the agricultural area of palm trees and reducing dependence on date imports in the coming years.
The initiative focuses on engaging the community in planting date pits available in every home, contributing to building a broad production base for palm trees, the effects of which will be reflected in the value chain, from the planting stage to marketing and manufacturing.
The Undersecretary of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Water Resources for the Plant Wealth Sector, Dr. Ibrahim Al-Saraji, explained that launching this initiative comes within the framework of a comprehensive strategic vision to support the plant production sector and enhance its role in sustainable development.
He affirmed that the initiative consolidates the spirit of community participation in developing agricultural production and preserving plant wealth and vegetation cover from degradation, pointing out that global climate changes necessitate adopting flexible plans that support agricultural expansion and benefit from climatic seasons for development.
Undersecretary Al-Saraji explained that palm trees are among the crops capable of adapting to multiple environments, which enhances the resilience of the agricultural sector in facing future challenges.
According to agricultural engineers, the initiative represents a multi-dimensional national community project with economic, environmental, and developmental aspects, aiming to transform individual efforts into tangible national production within four to five years, the expected period for the start of fruiting.
They affirmed that the success of the initiative will contribute to reducing dependence on imports and raising the agricultural sector's contribution to the national economy, especially since the country is a large consumer market for dates, making enhancing local production an urgent economic priority.
For his part, the Palm Value Chain Officer, Abdulrahman Haza'a, affirmed that the initiative represents an important transformation in the path of developing the palm sector, due to its direct impact on expanding the agricultural area and enhancing local production at a limited cost.
He noted that the expected increase in production could reach about 20,000 tons in the future, contributing to covering local market needs, opening horizons for export, and enhancing the presence of the national product in foreign markets.
The General Authority for Agricultural Research and Extension affirms that date pits require precise adherence to guidelines to ensure successful germination and proper seedling growth.
According to the Authority, the steps begin with selecting good quality pits, washing them to remove pulp residues, then drying them and wrapping them in a paper towel moistened with water inside a plastic container to maintain humidity until the white radicle appears. This is followed by transferring the pit to a container containing a soil mixture consisting of 50% agricultural soil and 50% sand to ensure good water drainage and prevent root rot, while maintaining a balance of moisture without excess or drought.
This initiative carries a motivational religious dimension, as it is linked to the culture of breaking the fast with dates during Ramadan, and is based on values that encourage planting, work, and production, thereby enhancing the culture of agriculture as part of the civilizational and economic identity.
The Ministry of Agriculture affirms that the results of the initiative may not appear immediately, but its positive effects will become evident in the coming years, forming a fundamental pillar in building a stronger and more sustainable agricultural sector.