Buraidah: The world’s biggest date festival has started in Buraidah. The ‘Dates Festival 2022’ which is organized in Buraidah date city under the supervision of provincial governorate, Qasem Office of the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture in partnership with the National Culinary Authority and Buraidah Municipality started on Monday morning. The festival will last till 30th of this month. ‘Sukari’ variety with golden color and honey flavor is the main date variety in this fair.
Abdul Aziz Alrajee, director of Qasem Office of the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture, said that seminars, doubt clearing and awareness programs will be organized in the coming days regarding palm cultivation, care, harvesting and product marketing. He added that the main objective of the festival is to increase the extent of oil palm cultivation in the area and the possibilities of marketing and export through the city.
Around 45 varieties from thousands of orchards spread across Buraida, Shammasiya, Ainul Juwa, Bukheria, Khabra and Badaya will reach the city during this festival. According to the Ministry of Agriculture, there are more than 80 lakh palm trees in the province. It is estimated that 30 percent of the country’s total date production comes from Khiseem.
Traders and middlemen from major cities of the country started arriving in Buraida. Needy people will come from outside the country in the coming days. Traditional sweets and food items made from dates are lined up in the stalls of Melanagari. Exhibition and sale of handicrafts and entertainment programs will also add to the festival.