Al-Qaim farmer cultivates rare crops, unveils unique date palm

AL-QAIM — In Al-Qaim, farmer and researcher Nabil Al-Rawi has transformed his orchards into what he calls “agricultural banks,” cultivating rare plant species from around the world and testing their adaptability to Iraq’s climate.

Among his recent successes are the North American Maclura tree and the Australian finger lime, known locally as caviar lemon. Al-Rawi also introduced a new date palm he calls Al-Safani, which he says is unique in Iraq.

“The fruit is red, larger than Majhool and Barhi, and close in size to the Khiyara date,” he told 964media. “It can be eaten both as fresh and dried dates. Its skin is tight, and it took about seven years to bear fruit.”

Al-Rawi said the palm first appeared by coincidence at the home of a family from Rawa living in western Syria. He transferred two offshoots to Iraq and is now working to propagate the variety.

Holding a master’s degree in biochemistry, Al-Rawi combines farming with research, experimenting with foreign varieties and sharing results with others. His work has been featured at the Abu Dhabi Date Exhibitions, and he is currently working with experts to establish a council for Iraqi dates.

He said his farm, established in 2009, spans more than 30 dunams, with 12 cultivated and about 2,000 trees in total. “We were the first to introduce pistachio trees to the region, and we now have 50 fully fruiting trees,” he said.

Other rare crops include Chinese grapes, Maclura trees and more than 25 Australian caviar lemon trees. “Initially we grow an experiment, and after success, we adopt it and increase the number of trees in the farm,” Al-Rawi said. “Our farm is considered a bank for rare varieties.”