Iraq Has 625 Date Varieties, With Zehdi Making Up 70%

Iraq’s Agriculture Ministry said the country has 625 date palm varieties, with the Zehdi variety accounting for 60% to 70% of production. The ministry said Zehdi is well suited to processing and industry and can be stored easily in ordinary warehouses because of its low moisture content. The ministry said it is seeking to boost production of rare Iraqi date varieties, including Berhi, Sayer and Hestavi, by strengthening tissue culture techniques. It said the effort is aimed at improving the propagation of higher-value local strains. Plans also include securing technical support from reputable international companies to raise the capacity of plant and date laboratories in Iraq. The ministry said this would help expand the sector’s scientific and operational capabilities. It also recommended allowing the import of tissue-culture seedlings to renew nurseries, as well as using modern harvesting machines. Work is also under way to improve date packaging and wrapping methods.