In support of the Kingdom’s agricultural sector and its contributions to the local economyFarmers Market Inaugurates 5th Edition of Palm Tree Festival

Manama, Bahrain – 8th August 2024:

In support of the Kingdom’s agricultural sector and its contributions to the local economyFarmers Market Inaugurates 5th Edition of Palm Tree Festival

The opening ceremony of the 5th edition of the Palm Tree Festival took place at the Farmers Market in Hoorat A’ali, where the event was held from Thursday, 1 August to Saturday, 3 August. The ceremony was attended by His Excellency Eng. Wael bin Nasser Al Mubarak, the Minister of Municipalities Affairs and Agriculture, Shaikha Maram bint Isa Al Khalifa, Secretary General of the National Initiative for Agricultural Development (NIAD), Ms. Dalal Al Qais, CEO of Bahrain Development Bank Group (BDB), the CEO of Tamkeen, in addition to a number of farmers, agricultural companies, artisans, and producers. The festival included a range of palm products, such as fresh dates and other related items, alongside a small exhibition dedicated to traditional Bahraini crafts, showcasing the lifestyle of past generations.His Excellency Eng. Wael bin Nasser Al Mubarak, the Minister of Municipalities Affairs and Agriculture, stressed the importance of palm cultivation as a cornerstone of Bahrain’s history, as well as its role in supporting environmental sustainability and sustainable agricultural development. He also noted that palm and date processing industries are vital for enhancing national agricultural products, diversifying income sources, and contributing to food security.His Excellency underscored the Ministry’s role to develop the agricultural sector and the sustainable development of palm cultivation. These efforts include preserving agricultural heritage, establishing genetic collections of local palm varieties for preservation and evaluation, adopting modern agricultural technologies, preparing an atlas of important date palm varieties in GCC countries, and conducting necessary studies related to palm trees.During the opening, Shaikha Maram bint Isa Al Khalifa, Secretary General of NIAD, commended the support of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, the contributions of His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa Crown Prince and Prime Minister, and the directives of Her Royal Highness Princess Sabeeka bint Ibrahim Al Khalifa, Wife of His Majesty the King and Chair of the Advisory Council of NIAD, for their resilient efforts in preserving palm trees as an integral part of Bahrain’s cultural heritage. She also extended her appreciation to Bahrain Development Bank for organising the festival and expressed her pleasure over the wide variety as well as quality of displayed products, in addition to the wealth of expertise and information available about palm cultivation.On her end, Ms. Dalal Al Qais, Chief Executive Officer of BDB, said: “I would like to extend my gratitude to NIAD, the Ministry of Municipalities Affairs and Agriculture, Tamkeen, Ahli United Bank, and the Gulf Petrochemical Industries Company (GPIC), for their instrumental role in making this festival a success. With the positive impact of these partnerships, the festival provided the ideal platform for farmers and agricultural producers to showcase their products and engage with the public. The festival also raised awareness on the importance of palm cultivation and enabled visitors to learn more about palm products. Through the Farmers Market and the Bank’s financing services, we strive to deliver the necessary support for the agricultural sector to enhance its contributions to the local economy.”The festival was organised by the Farmers Market management under the BDB Group, in partnership with NIAD, the Ministry of Municipalities Affairs and Agriculture, alongside the support of Tamkeen, Ahli United Bank and GPIC. The festival aimed to encourage and support the local production of palm products, while reinforcing and celebrating Bahrain’s cultural identity. It also provided opportunities for Bahraini farmers to promote their products and increase their sales and investments.