Pakistan is the 5th largest date producer in the world. Most of the country’s produce comes from Sindh, where date farming is spread over 75,000 acres.
More than 200 varieties of the fruit are grown in the province. Nearly 70 per cent of the province’s cultivation (700,000 tonnes p.a.) is done in Khairpur district, around 450 kilometres from Karachi, due to suitable climate.
The tremendous growth in date farming took place just after the Sukkur barrage was completed in the mid-1930s as the irrigated soil became more conducive for date palm.
Agriculture is central to Khairpur’s economy and date farming is the main source of livelihood for the residents. Despite producing 700,000 tons/year, Khairpur’s date industry remains outdated.
Growers plant an average of 60 trees per acre, with each tree bearing 100 kilograms of dates. A large portion of the produce, around 450,000 tonnes, is transported to the markets of Khairpur and Sukkur.
The plantation is made by keeping a required distance between each palm so that it should enjoy good environment and space to flourish for bearing quality fruit.
Nearly 80-90pc of these dates are dried (called chhuhara) and then put in gunny bags and taken to the market. However, a large quantity of dried dates is exported to our neighbouring countries.
The remaining soft dates are in demand in both local as well as international markets. Soft dates are processed in local factories. There are 20 such factories, of which 10 are regularly involved in the export business.
Dry dates are the main produce in terms of volume and value. They are handled at the date markets of Khairpur and Sukkur by more than 200 traders, nearly two dozen active exporters and around 5,000 workers.
The growers have adopted the traditional methods in cultivating the plant and nursing it for at least two to three years. The export market of dates requires compliance of global food standards, hence it has different dynamics.