Economic comparison and evaluation of manual and liquid pollination methods of date palm trees in the Sultanate of Oman (varieties Fardh and Khalas)

Abstract

The present study is prepared within the framework of the Development of Sustainable Date Palm Production Systems in Gulf Cooperation Council Countries project. This research and development project aims to produce new knowledge and practices to improve date palm production systems in the Gulf region. The main activities of the project include improving the productivity of cultivars, managing natural resources (land and water) for optimal performance, optimizing the use of different inputs in the cropping process (fertilizers, pollinators, wastewater, etc.), and studying the genetic diversity of date palms. The transfer of technology and experience between partners is an integral part of the project.

One promising technology introduced through the project is liquid pollination. This technology reduces the cost of labor, saves time, and improves the quality of the fruits. This technical report focuses on the economic assessment of such a technology in the Sultanate of Oman and compares its profitability and costs with a manual approach to pollination using a partial budget analysis tool and data collected from rapid rural appraisal surveys with farmers and researchers.