The date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.), cultivated in arid regions, is found across the Middle East, North Africa, South Sahel, East & South Africa, Europe, Asia, and the USA, with an estimated 150 million trees globally. This crop is a significant source of nutrition, providing 70% carbohydrates and 3,000 Kg calories per kilogram of fruit. It also contains vitamin A, B-2, B-7, Potassium, Calcium, Copper, Manganese, Chlorine, Phosphorous, Sulfur, and Iron.
In Gujarat's Kutch-Bhuj area, local varieties were traditionally grown from seeds, a method hindered by the dioecious nature of the plants, which made seed-based multiplication unfeasible.
Technical support for date palm cultivation has been provided by the Krishi Vigyan Kendra, with the Horticulture Department offering financial aid for two years. To combat water scarcity in Barmer, drip irrigation systems were mandated. The Department of Horticulture, Government of Rajasthan, has also established farms and centers of excellence in Date Palm cultivation in areas like Sagra, Bhojaka, Jaisalmer, and Khara, Bikaner. Since 2010-11, farmers in the desert regions have experimented with date palm farming, with the cultivated area reaching 156.00 hectares by 2020-21. This has resulted in an annual production of 150 to 180 tons of Date Palms in Barmer, enhancing the socio-economic status of farmers, reducing nutrient deficiency, and decreasing dependency on imports.
The introduction of date palm cultivation has altered the cropping pattern, contributing to desertification reduction. Initially, farmers were able to intercrop with Green Gram, Moth Bean, and Sesame. The area under date palm cultivation is expected to expand in the coming years, including in districts like Jalore, Jodhpur, Barmer, and Jaisalmer of Rajasthan.
Source: icar.org.in