Council seeks to clear doubts on date production

The Council of Saudi Chambers of Commerce and Industry (CSCCI) has sought the intervention of the Ministry of Agriculture to settle misconceptions created by a Saudi oncologist regarding the production of dates. 
Dr. Fahad Al-Khudairy from the department of oncology at the King Faisal Specialist Hospital in Riyadh had claimed that the chemicals used by producers to accelerate the ripening of dates contains carcinogenic substances that are injurious to human health.
“Al-Khudairy’s statement has caused huge losses to investors engaged in date production,” Eid Al-Maarek, chairman of the National Committee of Agriculture of the CSCCI, said Tuesday. 
Al-Maarek stressed that the ministry’s intervention would preserve the rights of investors and avoid material losses due to incorrect allegations made without any proof. He also urged authorities to take strict action to protect the rights of investors and save them for such financial losses. 
 “We are prepared to listen to any constructive suggestions from citizens that would facilitate the production of dates,” he said. 
Investors have expressed displeasure at the inaccurate statements issued by Al-Khudairy regarding the use of acids and sulphur to hasten the maturing process of dates, so as to sell them in the markets. 
Al-Maarek pointed out that Al-Khudairy’s statements were not based on any scientific evidence or documents and that the dissemination of the message through popular social media outlets aggravated the problem and led to an unprecedented drop in the sales and prices of dates. 
The chairman added that it is of Islam’s main values to pursue accuracy before delivering statements, which could tarnish the reputation of people and hinder their hard work. 
Date palms, like many other species of trees, live for more than a century and continue to grow throughout their lifetime. Trees, which are almost 12 meters in height, produce as much fruit as a younger date palm equivalent to about 1,000 dates a season. 
According to data from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations, Saudi date production represents approximately 12 to 13 percent of world production. According to the FAO, the world’s top date producers are Egypt, Iraq and Saudi Arabia. Other sources proclaim Egypt as the world leader in date palm numbers and fruit production. 
“Date production is such an integral part of the Saudi economy. It is second only to oil. It is for this reason that the government supports date farmers,” said Al-Maarek.
During the summer of 2012, the annual Buraidah Date Festival attracted more than almost 1 million visitors from around the Kingdom. Farmers and venders sold an estimated SR1 billion in dates over the 90-day event. An estimated 300,000 tons of dates were sold. Sukkari dates account for 80 percent of sales and are the most popular among Saudis according to vendors.