Najaf Conference on Promoting Dates

On September 30, 2009 the Najaf Chamber of Commerce and Najaf SBDC organized a Conference to discuss potential roles Najaf can play in promoting exports of dates from Iraq. Participants in the conference included representatives from the Najaf Provincial Council, the University of Kufa Agriculture Department, the Directorate of Agriculture, the Iraqi Investment Commission, and USDA.

(View of the Participants Attending the Conference)

Dates are Iraq’s single largest non oil export product. Over the years Iraq’s production has gone down substantially and growers are no longer encouraged to produce high end varieties. Random cutting of palm trees combined with a lack of access to technology, drip irrigation and pesticides have exacerbated the current situation. Iraq is now catering to the very low end of the market with exports mainly through India with few direct exports to other countries.

After India, the EU is the largest importer of Iraqi dates. EU importers that purchase higher quality table dates pay 10 times more than the buyers from India who principally purchase low quality dates. Premium quality table dates can be sold to European buyers for $2740/MT as opposed the Indian market price of $240/MT. Although table dates in Europe fetch an excellent price, Iraq has lost its ability to compete in this market segment. As a result of years of neglect and destruction of date palm plantations during three decades of war, the quality and production volumes of Iraqi dates have declined precipitously. Moreover, very little value-added grading and packaging is carried out in Iraq at the present time. Instead, Iraqi dates are imported by UAE based traders and then shipped out to India. Iraq has potential to increase the value of its date exports and returns to producers but needs to implement a variety of measures and programs to improve value-chain efficiency and product quality.

Conference attendees in Najaf recommend focus on Dates, as they have the potential to generate high export revenues again. Dr Majid, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Kufa noted that drought and poor pest control over the last few years had eroded the competitiveness of Iraqi dates which formerly were the among the highest quality in the world. The Ministry of Agriculture representative stated that number of palm trees in the country is currently only half of what it was in the sixties. Participants indicated the need to change the land titling act which is not favorable for the growers. The Najaf Chamber spokesperson said “Iraqi growers do not have access to information and markets; these are areas where development projects can play an important role”.