RIYADH: The popular Buraidah Dates Carnival is keeping its momentum, with constant purchasing and marketing of more than 50 date varieties.
The event has attracted a significant number of farmers and traders to this city renowned for its date production, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Saturday.
Sukkari dates remain a popular choice among buyers, with prices ranging from SR30 ($8) to SR100 for a 3 kg package. Other date varieties, including sagai, wanan, khalas, and red sukkari, are priced competitively based on quality.
The 51-day carnival, which started on Aug. 1, is expected to display the produce of more than 11.2 million palm trees.
In addition to the marketplace, the event includes a range of cultural, awareness-raising, social and entertainment programs, starting in September.
The event will receive more than 2,000 vehicles daily, loaded with hundreds of tonnes of dates in Buraidah. More than 4,300 young men and women will participate in various fields.
The National Center for Palms and Dates is overseeing the carnival in cooperation with the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture.
The center and the ministry also launched a digital system to improve the quality, efficiency and sales management of the carnival.
Consisting of two sections that align with agriculture regulations and public benefit market rules, the system covers broker-farmer contracts, date supply, auctions, sales and financial settlements, as well as broker-buyer contracts, auctions, sales and payments.
The digital platform offers streamlined sales tracking, robust control, financial security, rapid data access, transparent contract documentation, protection of the rights of farmers, brokers and buyers, innovative sales approaches, revitalized date markets, investor attraction, job creation, and the possibility to develop financial solutions in partnership with relevant agencies.
The Buraidah Dates Carnival is also known for its purchasing power and for recording the region’s most robust revenues. This year, it aims to exceed last year’s figures.
In 2023, the number of farmers’ vehicles that entered the market exceeded 60,000, carrying more than 7 million packages, which is close to 300,000 tonnes. Additionally, last year’s carnival had more than 400,000 visitors.
The number of palm trees in the Kingdom exceeds 34 million, distributed across all regions, with the Qassim region accounting for 11.2 million palm trees.
Date production in Qassim amounts to more than 528,000 tons, representing about 35 percent of the Kingdom’s date production of 1.6 million tonnes.
