The largest date farm in the Northern Territory is resuming pollination

The largest date farm, located 70 kilometres southeast of Alice Springs, has started pollination after February downpours across Central Australia completely destroyed last year's harvest. Thanks to an earlier start of work, some palms may yield earlier, but the main harvesting is expected between late February and early March.

As farm representative Mr McKay explained, due to the specifics of flowering, the plantation demonstrates a biennial cycle with alternating abundant and less productive seasons, but the current year should be favourable.

Previously, the main market for Barhi cultivar dates was Muslim communities celebrating Ramadan, as in recent years the harvesting time coincided with this holy month. Since the Islamic calendar is based on the lunar cycle and shifts about 10 days earlier each year on the Gregorian calendar, the Ramadan period is gradually moving away from the harvesting dates.

For Ramadan, the fruit was shipped in the yellow (Khalal) stage, requiring cold storage to prevent further ripening. Due to the increasing logistics complexity of such deliveries, Mr McKay announced the enterprise's decision to seek new market opportunities so as not to risk preserving firm yellow dates anymore.