Soaring palm trees, with green and thick leaves, depict an eye-catching view of the groves. Among these palm trees, clusters of dates hang from the branches, like golden spheres, as if they have accumulated the sun in their weave. Dates, this heavenly fruit, have been on people’s tables for a long time and have given a sweet and hearty taste to life. But where is the place to grow dates? In this article, we will go on a journey in the world of palm groves and learn about date cultivation areas in Iran and the world.
Origin of date palm:
Date palm has a tropical origin and grows best in tropical and subtropical regions. The Middle East, North Africa and South Asia are among the areas that have been devoted to date cultivation for a long time. In Iran, the groves in the southern regions of the country play an essential role in people’s lives.
Date cultivation areas in Iran:
The southern provinces of Iran are the paradise of palm groves. Khuzestan, Bushehr, Fars, Kerman and Sistan and Baluchistan are among the provinces that are leading in date production.
Khuzestan: With more than 200,000 hectares of palm groves, Khuzestan ranks first in date production in Iran. The cities of Abadan, Khorramshahr and ** Shadgan** are among the important date cultivation areas in Khuzestan.
Bushehr: With about 40 thousand hectares of palm groves, it ranks second in date production in Iran. Dashestan and Tangestan counties are among the important date cultivation areas in Bushehr.
Fars: With about 30 thousand hectares of palm groves, it ranks third in date production in Iran. The cities of Jahorm, Larestan and Firouzabad are among the important date cultivation areas in Fars.
Kerman: With about 25 thousand hectares of palm groves, it ranks fourth in date production in Iran. The cities of Bam, Rafsanjan and Jiroft are among the important date cultivation areas in Kerman.
Sistan and Baluchistan: With about 20 thousand hectares of palm groves, it ranks fifth in date production in Iran. The cities of Iranshahr, Nikshahr and Sarbaz are among the important date cultivation areas in Sistan and Baluchistan.
Suitable conditions for growing dates:
The palm tree needs a warm and dry climate to grow. Average temperature of 25 to 30 degrees Celsius and annual rainfall of less than 250 mm are ideal conditions for date cultivation.
Suitable soil for date cultivation:
Date palm grows well in sandy and clay soils with proper drainage. The presence of mineral salts in the soil is also necessary for the growth of this tree.
Irrigation of groves:
Palm trees need regular watering. Traditional irrigation methods such as joi and pishteh and modern irrigation methods such as drip irrigation are used in the groves.
Fighting pests and diseases:
The date palm has various pests and diseases that must be fought against. The use of poisons and biological methods are among the strategies to fight against date palm pests and diseases.