Dhi Qar
Farmers and traders navigate the bustling date market in Khan Al-Marhoom Hajj Lafta bazar
DHI QAR – Farmers and traders prefer the astamran variety due to its durability for long-distance transport. “Although the shoethi, bream, and barhi varieties are of high quality and taste, they wilt quickly and are mostly sold locally,” said Ali Mansour, a dates trader.
Many traders specialize solely in fresh dates, or rutab, which are harvested before they fully ripen into date known locally as tamr. Trader Barq Jawad stated that he focuses on rutab rather than tamr, as there is a higher local demand for this stage of the date.
964media spoke with Salah Ahmed, a palm grove owner, who came to the bazar to sell his harvest. He explained that prices start at 3,500 IQD (approximately $2.3) per kilogram at the beginning of the season and gradually decline to less than 1,000 IQD, less than a dollar.
The number of palm trees in Iraq has grown to over 22 million, marking an increase of 5 million in the past three years. Iraq has more than 650 varieties of dates, with the zahidi type being the top export due to its affordability and high demand.
From a low of 10 million, Iraq’s palm numbers have recovered notably due to the adoption of modern irrigation techniques, including more efficient sprinklers.
Ali Mansour, a dates trader says they only buy astamran dates because they can withstand the transport to Baghdad and other governorates, unlike the shoethi and bream, which cannot handle heat and transportation. “Currently, we buy astamran for 1,750 dinars per kilogram and sell it in Baghdad for 2,000 IQD ($1.5) per kilogram.” Buyers negotiate the price, and after agreements, the traders send the dates to them later.
“We also sell to Alawi Jamila, Al-Rashid, and Al-Dora markets in Baghdad. Our work lasts about a month during the rutab season at Khan al-Marhoom Hajj Lafta, which is the oldest khan in the old market. Currently, the descendants of Hajj Lafta continue the date business year-round,” Mansour explained.
Barq Jawad, another dates trader said they mainly buy types like kuntar, astamran, barhi, maktum, and shoethi from the farmers, depending on the variety and price. “Typically buy for 1,750 IQD ($1.3) per kilogram and sell for 2,000 or 2,250 IQD ($1.5 to $1.9) per kilogram. We export to all cities, with most quantities going to Baghdad,” said Jawad.
The demand for astamran is high because it can withstand the journey better than other types. According to Jawad, rutab has a higher local demand and includes varieties like maktum, shoethi, kuntar, and khudrawi. At the beginning of the rutab season, traders sell it for 3,500 dinars per kilogram. The price then gradually decreases to 2,000 or 1,500 dinars per kilogram as more rutab becomes available, eventually stabilizing at 1,000 or 750 dinars per kilogram, which is reasonable. “Currently, I am selling the astamran variety. Later, the yellow and red shoethi, bream, and maktum varieties will be harvested,” said Salah Ahmed, Palm Grove Owner, to 964media.
These types are not sold to wholesale traders because they cannot be exported and do not endure transportation well, so the farmers sell them only to local shop owners. Currently, the price for yellow shoethi is 3,500 dinars per kilogram, and bream is 3,000 dinars per kilogram.
Iraq’s date palm population has significantly declined from its peak due to multiple factors, including extensive war damage, environmental issues like increased soil salinity and drought, urbanization, and agricultural diseases. Conflicts have directly destroyed palm groves, while poor environmental management has worsened conditions for date cultivation. Economic changes have also led to the repurposing of agricultural land, further reducing the number of palm trees.