An Overview of Date Palm Cultivation, Benefits, and Production in Iran

Dates are a monocotyledonous and tropical plant from the palm family, which is an edible fruit with a thin skin, a sweet taste and a hard core. The fruit hang from the branch in the form of a large cluster and the leaves are large. The height of the palm reaches 10 to 20 meters or more

The spread of the date palm species is mainly in the northern hemisphere and in the countries of Iran, Pakistan, Iraq, Saudi Arabia and other Arab countries along the Persian Gulf, as well as most of the countries of North Africa and United States of America. It is also seen sporadically in the southern hemisphere. Dates cultivation in Iran is 232 thousand hectares, of which about 199 thousand hectares are fertile.

Palm trees are grown in tropical and subtropical regions, including Iran. Although its region is mentioned in Mesopotamia, Arabia, and north Africa. Scientists studies have identified it as P.H. Sivestris, which grows in India, is attributed. Archaeologists have attributed the construction of the groves to five thousand years ago because they found its name on clay tablets 50 centuries ago. 

Dates contain %25 Sucrose, %50 Glucose and Albuminoid substance, Pectin and Water. In addition, it has various Vitamins such as Vitamin A, B, C, E and some mineral salts.

Dates have many benefits due to the nutrients and minerals in them. Some of them are mentioned below:

Dates are suitable for pregnancy. For people with diabetes, dates can be part of a healthy diet. A person with diabetes, can as long as his diabetes is under control, consume 1 or 2 dates a day, excercise regularly and follow and implement a healthy diet. It has many protein and nutrients. It is useful for diarrhea. Humans need 9 milligrams of iron every day, which is 3 to 5 milk of iron in per 100 grams of dates. By eating a few dates a day, the iron which body needs, would be provided. Iron restores and builds red blood cells. Eating dates is a cure of anemia. Suitable for weight loss due to high fiber.

People make baskets and mats from palm leaves and branches. Bread is made from its core, wine and honey are made from date fruit. The people of the desert, grind the kernel of the palm tree into flour and make bread from it or roast the kernel and use use it like coffee because it’s brew is very pleasant, or even soak it in water for a few days and use it as a nutritious food for camels.

In Iran, 1 million tons of dates are produced annually, most of which are consumed domestically during the months of Ramadan. In terms of date production, the Southern region of Kerman province has the highest production in the country of Iran with the production of 181.800 tons of dates. Other regions of Kerman province have the same production of 117 thousand 600 tons. After Kerman province, Sistan and Baluchistan province has the second place in the production of dates in the country with production of 178 thousand 199 tons, followed by Khuzestan province with 144 thousand tons. Bushehr province with 142 thousand tons, Fars province with 138 thousand tons, Hormozgan province with 125 thousand tons.