Improving Date Palm Production in the Sultanate of Oman: Economic Evaluation of a Polycarbonate Drying House for Date Palm Products

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 the polycarbonate drying house. This technology is considered to be one of the most attractive and promising applications of solar energy systems in the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf (GCC) countries. The aim is to improve the quality of dried dates, accelerate their drying process, and obtain cleaner fruits that are free from dust. This technology reduces the cost of labor and time required, while improving the quality of the fruits. This technical report focuses on an economic assessment of the technology in the Sultanate of Oman and presents a rigorous economic analysis of the return on investment in the technology.