Date Palm Status and Perspective in Bahrain

Abstract

Throughout human history, the date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) has been an integral part of the rich heritage of the Kingdom of Bahrain. Dates have played a fundamental role in the economy and the social life of Bahrain’s patrimony. However, the revolutionary changes that have accompanied the discovery of oil have had a massive impact on the cultivation of date palms. A number of factors have reduced interest in making investments in date palm cultivation; among them are socioeconomic changes, climatic conditions, limitation of freshwater, salinization of agricultural lands, and the spread of indigenous and invasive alien pest species. Over the last decades, the number of date palm trees has decreased from 892,000 to 534,600; those remaining are currently distributed over the five governorates of the Kingdom. In spite of the challenges, Bahrain is striving to care for date palms as a state symbol and national treasure. Ex situ germplasm gene banks, in vitro facilities, and quarantine regulations and legislations have been established for the date palm. Nevertheless, Bahrain’s annual yield does not exceed 16,000 mt. Consequently, improving date palm industry is a necessity to emphasize that the date palm tree is a valuable asset that unites and integrates the variant parts of the ecosystem and keeps it intact as a stable, well-defined, and sustained entity. Long-term sustainable development demands modernization of the currently performed conventional practices of date palm care, harvesting and postharvesting processes, trading, and marketing, which have not risen to the standards required. In this regard, this chapter describes the current status of the date palm cultivation in Bahrain and the threats confronting the date palm conservation and industry development and aims to highlight potential resolutions and prospects.