IMPACT ANALYSIS: DATE PALM CRAFT

Flexible Fish
Nov 8 · 3 min read

Date palm craft: Origin in Allahabad (U.P)

Prevalent in: Hot and Dry climate

Active after: 5years of growth

Productive: 150 years

ZONE OF GROWTH (DATE PALM CRAFT)

Among the industries connected with palmyrah products, the palmyrah leaf industry provides employment to the largest number of women in this area. It is carried on in the homes of the workers generally by women although a few men are also found engaged in it. It is mainly functioning only in the eastern region of the district.

The causes for the localization of the industry in these centers are

(i) the abundant availability of palm trees in this area and

(ii) a large number of persons trained traditionally in the art.

The tender leaves of the palm tree have been used in the making of coarse mats which constitute the sole furniture in many rural households. They have been used in the making of rough boxes and baskets to store grains and household requisites.

The fan is made in two sizes, one about 10" and the other about 8" in diameter.

The materials required for the manufacture of this fan are as follows:

Tender palm leaves

Bamboos to form the handle Colours and paints

Threads and steel wire.

The different stages of manufacture of the fan are as follows:

1.Preparation of the blade.

2.Preparation of the handle.

3.Preparation of the fan, and

4.Decoration.

(Source: PALMYRAH INDUSTRY — AN OVERVIEW)

PRODUCTION PROCESS

Date palm is socio-economically and traditionally important for local populations where the culture thrives. Establishment of date palm groves helped nomad populations in the past to settle and organize communities and begin farming. These populations became a hub for marketing/trading commodities, animal and other products. Dates were and still are among the most important and appreciated products for trading at these oases-based communities.

Historically, date palm cultivation was practiced by ancient civilizations and is nowadays considered one of the oldest domesticated fruit-bearing trees. Remains of date palms were found in Jericho — the oldest site known to date to be the origin of agriculture. Date palm cultivation gained socioeconomic importance among tribes and countries due to its ecological plasticity and high adaptation to arid conditions where the annual precipitation rarely exceeds 250 mm combined with hot summers up to 50°C and cold winters down to — 10°C. Production of dates provides jobs for a manpower population estimated at 50 million people, 35% of which are located in the southern Mediterranean countries.

(Source: Emirates Journal of Food and Agriculture )

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