OMAN

Dates are making a
comeback in the international market. Gulf countries, till now solely reliant
on oil exports, are seeking to
diversify into agricultural
industries through the use of
modern horticultural and
food -processing techniques.
Omanis are taking renewed
interest in dates, which is the
largest agricultural product
of the country. The agricultural ministry of Oman has I
department of date research.
It has hired international
consultants to study methods for largescale plantation
of datepalm trees.

Now, dates are being
marketed in various forms
like date syrup and 'date
flakes'. A company has identified 92 uses for dates,
including fudge, vinegar,
spaghetti sauce, steak sauce,
liquid and even a coffee substitute made from roasted
date pits. Datepaln , thrive
in Oman's coastal area and
desert oases. Once the country's major exports, dates fell
into neglect during the oil
boom of the '70s and '80s.