An economic study of processing problems for the main important varieties of dates in Saudi Arabia

Abstract

Listen

Translate article

Although the production of dates increased extensively, processing sector of Saudi dates face many problems. By studying economic indicators of dates, the results show that there are improvements in all general economic dates indicators such as production, consumption, export, and import of Saudi dates during the study period. Although production of dates increased by about 86%, processing dates is only 10% of total production during 2000–2010. By studying the manufacturing problems, the results show that there are multiple production and marketing problems in manufacturing process such as the low quality of some dates varieties, inefficient marketing services (lack of standardising and grading), Government regulations, and manufacturing deterioration. In addition to processing problems related to the morphology characteristic (size, color, weight, etc.) and chemical contents (sugar, glucose, fructose, etc.) of date varieties. As a result of processing problems, feasibility for processing some dates varieties is now in depute such as Ehalas and Rezez produced from eastern Governorate. So, this paper study the processing problems of Saudi dates moreover study local and foreign consumers needs of Saudi dates by analysis the local and foreign demand of processed dates varieties such as size, color, taste, chemical, and morphology characteristics. The research supposes some possible solution for solving these processing problems and promoting marketing and manufacturing sector of Saudi dates. Finally, it is important to build a strategy plan that is concentrating on the cultivation varieties for export according to the foreign consumers’ needs other than local consumers’ needs to improve the export percentage of total dates production, which is very limited (5%) for the third world producer.