A solution to keep Bahrain’s Palm Trees Growing

Originating from the Sudan region of Africa, the red palm weevil was introduced into the Middle East when a few adults were found in an Egyptian port city.

The destruction has had severe implications for farmers and agricultural businesses in the Middle East, as the red palm weevil larvae feed on the growing tissue of the tree and completely girdle the tree, which stops the flow of essential nutrients from the roots to the crown and causes the tree to eventually die. Even worse, these insects spread from tree to tree quickly and effectively, meaning they can infest multiple trees in a very short time frame.

Agrint's "loTree" technology is helping farmers in Bahrain and beyond to deal with the devastation these insects bring to the island's once thriving date palm farmers. Over the last decade these insects have rampaged through Bahrain's once thriving palm tree areas killing off thousands.

Agrint Tech promises to solve the problem says Fouad ElKhazen with the ground breaking technology which offers farmers real-time data on their trees and insight into what action to take.

He says, "Prior to the 90s, it was estimated that Bahrain had around one million date palm trees. The most recent satellite survey has shown a significant decrease of anywhere between 50% to 70%. Though agriculture experts suggest it is around 400 thousand, the exact current number is still disputed. Globally, the Middle East is estimated to hold 70% of the world's date palm trees.

The date farmers in Bahrain have faced struggles, as they have not been compensated fairly for their labour. Even when a tree survives, it takes one attack to disrupt the production of that tree forever. In order to support these farmers, initiatives have been put in place to help them survive and prosper." According to Fouad, as it stands, the farmers often receive 500 fils for each kilo of dates, but the cost at supermarkets can be as much as five dinars per kilo.

As a result, farmers find it not economically viable to sell their produce, often opting to use it for animal feed instead. The proposed technology is meant to raise the financial gain for the farmers, thereby encouraging them to cultivate the crops. He adds, "Additionally, cautioned against the over usage of pheromone traps in an attempt to mitigate the damage caused by the red palm weevil. The problem is that these weevils can fly up to 25 kilometres in one day and, if there is a pheromone trap in the vicinity, it can be even worse."

"A very overlooked aspect is the issue of pesticides. Firstly, there is considerable evidence that the weevil is becoming resistant to conventional pesticides. So ever larger quantities are being used. Secondly these pesticides, as they are neurotoxins, have been shown to cause neurological diseases in farmers exposed to them. Using the Agrint detecton which detects the larvae in early stages means a targeted approach which minimizes pesticide usage. Finally, because the system can tell if the treatment against the Weevil larvae has been effective, a wider set of treatment options is available", he concludes.