Liwa Date Festival bridges generations in a celebration of tradition and innovation
AMEINAH ALZEYOUDI (LIWA CITY)Amid rapid innovation and technological progress, the UAE has remained true to its roots: The Liwa Date Festival stands as a shining example, celebrating how the country honours its agricultural heritage and cultivates it for the modern era.With ancestral knowledge passed down through generations, a new crop of experts and farmers are growing traditions into the future - and the festival has become the annual platform where insights are exchanged and new ideas are showcased.One age-old agricultural practice still recognised by Emirati farmers today is a system called "the equation of equations", said Ahmed Al Mansouri, a visitor experience specialist for the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi, who spoke at the festival.This ancient system is a "natural calendar" that divides the farming year into four 100-day periods."The first 100, known as the yellow period, begins on August 15 and ends on November 22. The second 100, referred to as winter, runs from November 23 to March 2. During this time, the weather cools, preparing the soil and trees for growth," Al Mansouri said."From March 3 to June 10, we enter the third 100, aligned with spring and early summer, when trees begin to flourish after winter rains. The final 100, also called the yellow period, lasts from June 11 to August 14, marking the culmination of the growth cycle."These are not random dates, Al Mansouri stressed, as these periods were ultimately tied to the life cycle of a date palm, from seedling to germination and growth."We monitor when seedlings are planted, typically from February 1 to March 2. Germination follows, and eventually, the tree is thinned and shaped to ensure even growth. Full maturity usually begins around April 22," he added.From deep-rooted agricultural knowledge, new innovations continue to sprout.Theyab Alketbi, a horticulture student from the United Arab Emirates University's College of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, studied tissue culture technology and presented his research that highlighted the benefits of cultivating palm trees in laboratory conditions.Explaining the complex process, Alketbi told Aletihad: "Using a small piece of plant tissue, known as a lip, we place it in a nutrient-rich medium. This controlled environment allows for rapid and healthy growth."From a single tissue, it's possible to produce as many as 2,000 to 3,000 palm seedlings in a process that takes five years, three in a lab and two in a greenhouse.
"This method not only preserves valuable genetic traits but also ensures disease-free, high-quality plants for the market," Alketbi said.
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