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Libya had abundant date production this year. But farmers are not happy. They face various challenges that slow down their hopes for emancipation as export challenges arise for this crop. The problem arises from poor marketing in the international market
Libya had abundant date production this year. But farmers are not happy. They face various challenges that slow down their hopes for emancipation as export challenges arise for this crop. The problem arises from poor marketing in the international market.
The main areas where dates are grown in Libya are Wahat and Awjila. Together, these two regions produce close to 150,000 tons annually. Most of this fruit is destroyed or used as animal fodder due to poor marketing.
In 1961, Libya produced around 29,100 tons of dates, compared to 177,629 tons in 2020. In fact, in 2020, Libya occupied the 5th place among African countries in terms of date production.
Libya’s production of dates for the first half of this year amounted to 180,000 tons, the Director of the Palm Department in the Ministry of Agriculture, Abdul Salam al-Abani, said.
Date production was abundant this year; most of the harvest was from the oasis region in the south, with an increase in consumption during Ramadan, although partial drought and pest attack affected the overall production.
Libya is expecting to export 50,000 tons. The estimate is that export figures would reach 100,000 tons by the end of the season. Libya has about ten million palm trees distributed across its territory, especially in the regions of Al-Jufra, Jalo, and Awjila. The country’s production of dates in the last five years amounted to 700,000 tons, at a rate of 150,000 tons annually, according to the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).
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At the same time, the conflict-ridden country does not have a proper strategy to export dates to the international market, though it can fetch higher prices and market acceptability, because of its superior quality and taste.
