Algerian date “Deglet Nour” to be labelled by Algerian authorities

The Algerian authorities have decided to geographically label the famous” Deglet Nour” dates and protect all types of Algerian dates to prevent the usurpation of their trade mark by other countries.

• A scientific study carried out by Algerians and US experts has revealed that “Deglet Nour” cannot be produced according to the same standards and excellence in any other place in the world apart from Algeria and more specifically the region of “Tolga”, southern Algeria.
• The Director General of the Botanic unit development at the agriculture ministry Farid Abdouche, has revealed to Echourok that the palm groves areas has registered a significant expansion over the last decade, estimated at 69% moving from 101 thousand Hectares in 2000 to 169 thousand Hectares in 2009 countrywide with a total of 7.18 million palm trees scattered over around 100 thousands farms.
• M Abdouche has further indicated that the number of professionals in this sector of activity is estimated at 200 thousand farmers, adding that the sales have, for the first time, registered the record turnover of USD 650 millions last year, with USD 458 millions for “Deglet Nour” exclusively.
• This worldwide renowned product is exported to the European, Gulf, North American, and Sub-Saharan countries.
• The number of “Deglet Nour” Palm trees is estimated at 6.5 millions in the year 2009 in comparison to 4.4 millions in 2000, mostly planted in the provinces of Biskra, Ourgla, Oued Souf Ghardaia, in addition to Bechar and Adrar, which produce another types of dates, known by: Alhmira, Tinacer, Takerboucht.
• The production of “Deglet Nour” has reached 3.1 million quintals in 2009 in comparison to 1.6 millions in 2000 but 12 thousand tons only have been exported while huge quantities were smuggled to neighboring countries including Tunisia, where they are packaged and exported back to Europe and America as being a Tunisian product.