ANCIENT DATE VARIETIES FROM THE AL JUFRAH OASES [Production Protocol]
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ANCIENT DATE VARIETIES FROM THE AL JUFRAH OASES [Production Protocol]
ART. 1 PRODUCT DENOMINATION AND TYPE The denomination of the product to which this protocol refers is Ancient Date Varieties from the Al Jufrah Oases in Libya. The date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) is recognized for its unique capacity to grow, produce fruit and accumulate a high quantity of important metabolites in farming conditions with highly restrictive temperatures and aridity. The species adapts well to semi-desert conditions. It represents a fundamental economic and food resource in areas that are inhospitable to other plant species, and in fact it can even create a microclimate suitable for other plant species. From a strictly biological point of view, the date palm is a dioecious species, meaning some plants have female flowers and some have male flowers. The latter are basically just pollen carriers. Depending on environmental conditions and the planting density as well as the variety, the tree can reach a considerable height. It generally produces off-shoots and these are the best to use for vegetative propagation to avoid the variability found in plants grown from seed. In some cases micropropagation can be used. The palms are often intercropped with other fruit trees, herbaceous species and/or annual vegetables. The main product is the fruit, which can be eaten fresh or dried, including after being stored in refrigerated conditions. The quality of the product and its predisposition to storage and successive drying are closely connected to the varietal type. Other uses are linked to feeding animals and the utilization of different parts of the plant following its death or felling (trunk, leaves, etc.).
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ART. 2 GEOGRAPHICAL PRODUCTION ZONE The Al Jufrah oases are located in a region in north-central Libya. The date palm and specific varieties today considered to be of superior quality have adapted perfectly to the area’s specific soil composition and climate. The word “Jufrah” refers to a depression, and Al Jufrah is surrounded by areas of higher altitude. To the south lie the Jebel Soda (the Black Mountains, of volcanic origin and formed of black basalt rocks), to the northwest the eroded slopes of the Jebel Machrigh, to the northeast the Jebel Waddan (Waddan Mountains) and to the east the Harugie Mountains. The depression has various inhabited zones next to the oases. Water is not a limiting factor in the Al Jufrah oases. The characteristic element of this production area is represented by the oases, which interrupt interminable expanses of desert sand with environments of extraordinary biological and vegetal diversity, in perfect equilibrium with the people who live and cultivate crops here. The availability of irrigation and the renewed fertility of the sandy soil enables the creation of a highly sustainable agricultural environment suited to the cultivation of many temperate and subtropical species that can tolerate high temperatures, temperature swings and abundant light. ART. 3 HISTORICAL REFERENCES The date palm varieties cultivated today in Libya are the same as those described by the Italians between 1926 and 1930. This shows how the impressive local genetic heritage has not been lost over time, but instead been wisely maintained and regenerated. In recent years the Libyan government has launched large-scale works to encourage, improve and promote date production, establishing new palm plantations in various desert and subdesert regions of the country, strengthening research institutes in the sector and encouraging technical and scientific exchanges with the aim of genetic, agricultural and biological improvement of the crop in arid environments.
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ART. 4 PEDOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF THE PRODUCTION AREA The production area is characterized by oasis zones whose arable soils are primarily sandy, and therefore highly permeable, and whose fertility is strongly influenced by the availability of irrigation. Water is drawn from strata of variable depths through wells and distributed using modern or traditional systems, depending on the age of the plantations. ART. 5 VARIETIES The most common varieties and those of greatest agricultural interest are listed here with their main carpological characteristics. Kathari: Highly esteemed, though slightly astringent; stays soft throughout the year; has a greenish-yellow fruit, oval, stubby, with a thick, hard skin and soft flesh. Tagiat: Dark-brown fruit, elongated oval in shape, with a smooth, thick, hard skin and soft flesh; keeps quite well. A popular old saying claims that hunting dogs run fast because they eat Tagiat dates. Abel: Dry, easy to store and transport; oval fruit, yellow with brown patches; smooth, tough, thick skin; hard flesh with a sweet but astringent flavor. Halima: Considered a rare delicacy, they represent the highest quality of date. The very soft fruits are larger than average and pleasantly sweet without being cloying. Saiedi: Of ancient Egyptian origin, but now considered one of Libya’s most important varieties, it has a translucent dark-brown fruit, shaped like an elongated oval, with a thin, tender skin and soft, syrupy flesh. The palms can be irrigated with brackish water. They are highly resistant to parasites and very productive, producing a regular yield each year. The fruits are appreciated for their pleasant flavor and because they store well. Bestian: With a low sugar content, this is the date variety most recommended for diabetes sufferers. Very soft. Hamria: Very abundant in Al Jufrah. This variety is particularly good for the production of lagbi, the juice extracted from the palm’s trunk.
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ART. 6 CULTIVATION TECHNIQUES PLANTING The palms are reproduced through the use of off-shoots naturally put out by properly tended adult plants. In order to be useful for a new planting, the offshoot must have a base diameter of at least 20-25 centimeters and no more than 35 centimeters when cut from the mother plant. The cuttings for propagation are taken between March and May. To encourage the formation of roots without weakening the plant, when the off-shoot is planted the foliage surface must be significantly cut back and covered so as to limit the action of the sun’s rays and the loss of water by transpiration. During this period it is necessary to keep the soil moist to guarantee absorption from the earliest development of the new root system. After planting, the date palm will be unproductive for around five years. The first significant production will only come after at least eight years, and full productive maturity will be reached after around 20-25 years. In specialized conditions, new plantations are laid out on a square grid with each plant a minimum of 6 by 6 meters and a maximum of 8 by 8 meters from the others. FARMING CARE During the winter season, work takes place to eliminate weeds and at the same time to repair, where necessary, the system of furrows and basins for transporting and containing water. Pruning takes place during the winter, usually once every two years, to encourage the growth of the apex and to avoid its weakening. The operation is entirely manual and involves the removal of two or three layers of foliage from below. Fertilization does not involve the use of any synthetic products. Given the fairly common presence of livestock (cows and sheep) on the farms, organic fertilization with manure is common. Drip irrigation is used in new plantations; after around two to three years, surface irrigation is used, with furrows and basins used to transport the water and distribute it to the plants. Irrigation takes place throughout the year in shifts of around 15 days.
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The plantations are almost always intercropped. The most common intercropping is with fruit trees of various species. In some cases there is seasonal intercropping with herbaceous and/or vegetable species commonly used in local cooking. Flowering takes place in February and March. The palm flowers are not very attractive to pollinating insects, and because of the orientation of the inflorescence, pointing towards the ground, the wind does not always guarantee sufficient pollination. This is why pollination is manually facilitated. The male flowers (usually from plants selected locally for their ability to produce large quantities of pollen) are collected, then attached to the middle of the rachis of the female plant. The male flowers are only removed when small fruits are already visible. HARVESTING The fruit is harvested by hand. Though there are a few differences based on variety and maturity, usually the plant is climbed three times: The first two times allow “precise� harvests, picking only the individual fruits as they ripen, while on the third, the whole infructescence is cut, then taken down to the ground for the fruits to be removed. A plant in full production can produce up to 100-120 kilograms of dates per season. PROTECTION Protection does not involve the use of any particular parasiticidal products, thanks partly to the climactic conditions, which discourage the development of multiple generations of entomophages and the proliferation of fungi. During the winter, a natural copper-based antifungal treatment can be applied where necessary. It is possible to use natural parasitoids to organically combat entomophages, which particularly attack the fruit during the ripening phase. SOIL MANAGEMENT The use of mechanical equipment to work the soil is very rare. The only work involves removing weeds and repairing the furrows and basins constructed for irrigation. Weeding is done manually, usually in the months of January and February, before flowering. The soil is fertilized with natural products. Farms use their own manure, preferably well seasoned, to fertilize the soil where a new palm grove is going to be planted. The use of compost heaps is common: All the plant waste
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produced by the farm is placed in a ditch, layered with soil and irrigated frequently to encourage the processes of mineralization and decomposition. The compost is then distributed around the grove. ART. 7 POST-HARVEST MANAGEMENT The ancient varieties of dates from the Al Jufrah oases are primarily sold fresh and commercialization must follow specific technical procedures to guarantee that the quality and safety of the product is maintained. After harvesting, the dates must undergo a rigorous sorting to remove impurities and/or imperfect fruits and any others unsuitable for sale. The operation must take place in a hygienic place so as to avoid any contamination from pathogens present in zones unsuited to the processing of food products. Working on the ground is not allowed. When destined for fresh consumption, the dates must then be processed for packaging and refrigerated. The packages are kept refrigerated until sale, and to guarantee refrigeration within the country or abroad a continuous cold chain must be used. The dates can also be dried, either whole or pitted. This is done in a hot oven after they have been properly washed with potable water. Also in this case, the fresh product must be kept refrigerated until being processed, to maintain quality and safety. The pitted dates can also be pressed into a paste, for use primarily in the confectionery industry. ART. 8 PACKAGING For direct consumption the dates are packaged in cardboard boxes in layers. Ideally there should be no more than three layers. The packaging must take place in suitable hygienic conditions in environments properly set up to avoid any contamination. Larger packages can also be prepared for distribution within the domestic catering industry.
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