Within the Libyan countryside, farmer Ismail Ben Saoud has launched an agricultural experiment, banking on Mejhoul dates — a premium selection cherished throughout the Arab world however untested in such a moist coastal local weather.
Ben Saoud’s five-hectare (12-acre) farm in Misrata, western Libya, stands out within the panorama that’s dotted by olive and citrus bushes.
Eight years after taking the leap, he says his 700 palm bushes now produce high-quality Mejhoul dates which he hopes will attain worldwide markets quickly.
“Folks have claimed that these palms could not survive right here, particularly close to the ocean,” mentioned Ben Saoud, 42.
“However with persistence and cautious experimentation, we’re proving them incorrect.”
Mejhoul dates, native to Morocco’s semi-arid areas, are famed for his or her massive measurement, tender texture and wealthy sweetness.
Historically thought unsuitable for Mediterranean climates, the variability has exceeded Ben Saoud’s expectations.
Utilizing natural fertilisers and refining methods over time, Ben Saoud now anticipates reaching full manufacturing capability in simply two years.
“The harvest has been very passable,” he mentioned about this 12 months’s output.
“One other 12 months or two and it will likely be optimum. We enhance from 12 months to 12 months.”
For Libyans and others throughout the Arab world, dates are a treasured meals.
A staple candy throughout festivities, they maintain cultural in addition to spiritual worth, historically eaten to interrupt the every day quick throughout the Muslim month of Ramadan.
Mejhoul dates go for as much as 80 Libyan dinars (round $16) per kilogramme in native markets, way over the value tag hooked up to different varieties, as little as six and as much as 20 dinar.
However for a lot of clients, Mejhoul costs match their high quality, with an unwavering demand amongst Libyans preferring domestically produced items.
– ‘Rising curiosity’ –
The nation has confronted a number of woes since a 2011 NATO-backed rebellion overthrew and killed longtime dictator Moamer Kadhafi, plunging Libya into instability and battle.
Even earlier than that, a long time of near-exclusive reliance on oil income left lots of Libya’s sectors underdeveloped.
However many have been striving to deliver round Libyan agriculture.
In Misrata, a serious port metropolis and industrial hub about 200 kilometres (120 miles) from the capital Tripoli, supermarkets are stocked with a wide range of date merchandise.
They run the gamut from molasses and pastes utilized in conventional pastries like makroudhs, to novel concoctions corresponding to stuffed dates smothered in chocolate.
“The standard of Libyan dates has improved noticeably for the reason that 2011 conflict,” mentioned Najwa, an Egyptian nurse on trip, searching for her favorite varieties.
“There’s extra care put into rising and making ready them now.”
Salah Shagan, a Libyan agriculture knowledgeable, mentioned that “extra Libyans are turning to farming in recent times”, with a “rising curiosity” in olives, greens and dates.
“These efforts not solely deliver earnings, but in addition revive our connection to the land.”
Libya now has over 10 million date palms, producing greater than 50,000 tonnes of fruit yearly, in line with the agriculture ministry.
A lot of this manufacturing satisfies native demand, however farmers additionally intention to make it to worldwide markets.
For Ben Saoud, exporting Mejhoul is his subsequent main guess.
“Our native demand is already robust, so we should guarantee we are able to meet that earlier than increasing additional,” he mentioned, strolling by way of his orchard together with his two younger daughters, their mouths filled with recent dates.
