Date
Palm of Nizwa
Khalas
and khunaizi, relished for their delicious taste and succulence,
are the choice favourites among the staggering variety of dates
that grow in Nizwa. Demand for these prized dates is burgeoning
as entire farms in the wilayat are now being devoted to the
cultivation of the crème de la crème of Omani
dates
An
offering of delicious khalas dates — Pictures by Abdullah
Ibrahim al Shuhi
FOR
the majority of Nizwa's farmers, the khalas and khunaizi are
proving to be something of a money-spinner, thanks to an ever-increasing
appetite for these most celebrated of Omani dates. They command
premium prices as demand for these all-time favourites far outstrips
supply. So lucrative are the crops that farmers are now switching
en masse to the exclusive production of khalas and khunaizi
type dates. These account for roughly half of all the date palms
that grow in the wilayat's lush gardens. Other notable types
like bunaringah, khasab, naghal, handhal and qashkantarah are
among 40 different varieties that grow in Nizwa.
In
fact, Nizwa's date bounty is the pride of Oman's vast date palm
heritage. Although the wilayat has no exclusive claim to any
one type of date, its harvests are the envy of farmers elsewhere
in the Sultanate. Ideal weather conditions in the Interior region,
characterised by long, hot summer and low humidity, ensure the
perfect environment for high-quality and high-yield fruit.Leading
the pack is the khalas — a bright yellow, oval-shaped fruit
that is both juicy and delicious. Hugely relished throughout
the Sultanate, it fetches the lion's share of an ordinary farmer's
earnings.
The
dark red khunaizi, which are in great demand both in season
and as dry dates
Roughly
25 per cent of all date palms in a typical Nizwa farm are of
the khalas type, says veteran farmer Soud bin Zahran al Ismaili,
who is also one of the wilayat's best-known experts on date
farming. He also doubles as the official caretaker of Nizwa's
great tourist attraction — the Falaj Daris — which,
along with other major aflaj, is responsible for nurturing Nizwa's
fine heritage of date palms. An early-season crop, the khalas
is harvested during the July-August period of the date season.
Usually
eaten fresh, the universal appeal of the fruit stems from its
delectable fleshy texture. Moreover, it retains its appetising
colour and succulence even after turning completely ripe. "The
khalas is good business for farmers," remarks Al Ismaili.
"A single tree's yield is worth about RO80-100, which surpasses
in value other varieties cultivated in the wilayat. Also, yields
can be as high as 100kg per tree during the course of the season."
In fact, the khalas is emerging as the dominant date crop in
the wilayat, progressively supplanting other varieties that
are of a commercially inferior value.
Gentle
falaj flowing through Nizwa's lush date farms
Virtually
every palm tree felled by either age or disease is now being
replaced by a khalas tree, adds Al Ismaili. Competing strongly
with the khalas is the khunaizi — a dark red fruit that
is relished either fresh or half dry. A tour of Nizwa's verdant
countryside would reveal vast clusters of these red dates that,
along with the bright yellow clusters of the khalas, and the
dark pink blooms of the bunaringah, add much appeal to the wilayat's
date farms. The bunaringah is another local favourite that grows
abundantly around Nizwa.
Date
buffs enjoy this bright yellow fruit because it is palatable
and easy on the stomach when consumed in large quantities. Demand
for the fruit also comes from date processing factories in Nizwa
and elsewhere. The first of Nizwa's 40-odd date varieties reach
full-blown maturity in the early part of summer, with the date
season lasting until December. Early-season crops include the
naghal, manzaj, manhi and qashkantarah.
Splendid
blooms of dates, which are among 40 different varieties growing
in Nizwa
Choice
varieties like the khalas, khunaizi, barni, qashtabaq and handhal
follow during July and August. Then come the khasab, zabad and
khalas oman types, followed by hilali oman in September. Early
crops, says Al Ismaili, are sensitive to rain and climate fluctuations
often resulting in inferior yields. Later arrivals are more
likely to mature into full-blown, fine quality crops. In fact,
many traditional farmers prefer to grow a variety of date palms
in their gardens to allow for a staggered harvest that ensures
a steady income right through the eight-month date season.
While
weather conditions dictate largely the quality and yield of
the date crops, Nizwa's farmers also owe much of their good
fortune to the abundance of water in the wilayat. The verdant
swathe of date palms growing around the wilayat's best-known
landmark — Nizwa fort — is irrigated by numerous streams
fed by the bountiful waters of eight aflaj included Falaj Daris,
Falaj al Jhandaq and Falaj A'Thot.Falaj Daris, described as
the largest and most bounteous in the Sultanate, travels underground
for about 3km before surfacing at Shariya, a delightful garden
setting located just outside Nizwa town. Daris' mineral-rich
waters nourish a third of Nizwa's lush gardens. Five other aflaj,
in addition to Falaj al Jhandaq and Falaj A'Thot, course through
the rest of Nizwa's lush date palm canopy.
Popular
varieties of dates grown in Nizwa
