Dates shortage feared this Ramazan

Local crops destroyed by floods, while imports hampered by dollar shortage

KARACHI:

The demand for dates surges in the holy month of Ramazan because the faithful prefer to break their fast with dates as per the tradition of the Prophet (PBUH).

However, this year the local dates crop was destroyed by the unprecedented floods in Sindh and Balochistan, while imports have also been hampered by depleting foreign exchange reserves in the country.

Traders say high freight charges and depreciation of rupee have pushed up the price of imported dates by 30 to 40 per cent.

The Khajoor Bazaar in Karachi’s Lea Market is the biggest trading centre of dates in the country, where traders complain about their predicament. They say that this year, the date crops in Khairpur district of Sindh, and Panjgur and Turbat districts of Balochistan were destroyed by the floods, while the available stocks would not suffice the demand.

Like every year, prices of dates have increased with the advent of the fasting month.

The president of the Dates Traders and Retailers Association, Hanif Baloch, told The Express Tribune that Lea Market caters to the demand of not only Sindh, including Karachi, but it also supplies dates to the entire country.

“It’s a double whammy this season as the local date crops have been destroyed by the floods, while we cannot import dates due to non-availability of dollars in the market,” he added. “This year, only Iranian dates are available in the market, which are imported through an arrangement with Iranian traders.”

However, the price of Iranian dates has also doubled. Last year, they were sold for Rs8,000 per 40kg, while this year the price has shot up to Rs15,000 to 17,000 per 40kg.

Dates Merchants Association President Muhammad Sabir added that the Iranian Zahidi dates were being sold for Rs12,000 to 14,000 per 40kg, while Iranian dry dates are available at Rs600 per kg and Panjgur dates are selling at Rs700 per kg at various superstores in Karachi.

Besides religious importance, dates are one of the most popular fruits with a list of essential nutrients, vitamins, and minerals, required for normal growth, development and overall well-being.

Khajoor Bazaar abuzz with flies, business activity

While traders, wholesalers and retailers squabble over rates, the largest centre for buying and selling dates in Karachi is buzzing with flies and business activity. Khajoor Bazaar in the Lea Market area is considered as one of the oldest markets in Karachi. Some locals say that the bazaar predate British rule.

It was close to the ancient jetty of Ghas Bandar (grass port) where seafarers brought dates from Arab countries on sail boats. Traders used to haul the delicacies from Karachi to other part of India.

The Ghas Bandar jetty is no more, but the date trade thrives. Dates from Sukkur, Khairpur, Panjgur, Iran, Iraq and Saudi Arabia are available here. Until two decades ago, center consisted of one to two main streets. However, the market has now shifted to new building compounds and shops across the street and wholesale business has taken a different turn. Dates are sold at retail on stalls in the old streets. There are also some wholesale centers in the area. The number of temporary shops increases during Ramazan. An estimated 50 to 60 tons of dates are sold daily in Lea Market’s Khajoor Bazaar a few months before Ramazan, which is also supplied to other parts of the country.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 21^st, 2023.