1.2 Contact details of resource persons and institutions involved in the assessment and documentation of the Technology

Name of project which facilitated the documentation/ evaluation of the Technology (if relevant)

Name of the institution(s) which facilitated the documentation/ evaluation of the Technology (if relevant)

1.3 Conditions regarding the use of data documented through WOCAT

The compiler and key resource person(s) accept the conditions regarding the use of data documented through WOCAT:

Yes

1.4 Declaration on sustainability of the described Technology

Is the Technology described here problematic with regard to land degradation, so that it cannot be declared a sustainable land management technology?

No

2.1 Short description of the Technology

Definition of the Technology:

Pollination of date palms is essential to ensure good quality yield. Currently, pollination is done manually: this is a costly process and dangerous. Mechanised Liquid Pollination (MLP) reduces variable costs by 80% and prevents causalities while maintaining yield.

2.2 Detailed description of the Technology

Description:

In the Middle East, the date palm is a common crop with significant cultural and economic value. Date palms are typically found in dry, arid and hot areas. Due to climate change in the form of high temperatures, heatwaves, increased water scarcity, harsh winds, poor pollination and the increase of pests, production problems are increasing. The International Center of Agricultural Research in Dry Areas (ICARDA) acknowledged these challenges and led an initiative to address the key issues. One major challenge identified was the labour-intensive and dangerous practice of manual date palm pollination: a farmer climbs up the tree and spreads the pollen. This is expensive and dangerous. An alternative tested was mechanised liquid pollination. Pollen is mixed with water and then sprayed onto the inflorescence of the palm tree. The costs are reduced substantially, and there is a three times higher benefit-cost return. In addition, pollination is now less depending on the climate, thus more resilient to climate change.

Prior to pollinating, the male spathes are cut off to avoid the losses of pollen. This is done when the spathes begin to ripen. The spathe is brought to a temperature-controlled room to dry for few days. Then the inflorescence is opened and strands are left to dry further. As the moisture content of the inflorescence decreases, its flowers begin to open and the pollen is released. It is captured, and mixed with water. Pollination is then carried out mechanically with a pump system or drones.

Regarding the costs, based on 140 date palms per hectare this corresponds to 28 inflorescences required. These are processed into 560 grams of pollen following the methodology as described above. The cost per inflorescence is around 6 Omani Riyal (1 Omani Riyal = 2.6 USD). The actual pollination through a drone, also known as showering, costs around 150 Omani Riyal. Showering is done four times, with each consisting of an operation time of 3 hours, so 12 hours in total. In other words, the total cost per hectare for applying this liquid pollination through showering is estimated at around 518 Omani Riyal, or 1,350 USD. The purchase costs of a drone and the related devices is estimated at 8000 Omani Riyal.

To conclude, this innovation is very useful because it substantially lowers variable costs of date palm production and prevents the risks of accidents under the conventional method of pollination. However, the required investments are very large for individual farmers.

Information and data presented are partly made available through the project “Support to Date Palm Production in the Gulf Council Countries,” funded through the GCC General Secretariat by the member countries, managed by the International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA) and implemented in the Sultanate of Oman by the Directorate General of Agriculture & Animal Research.

2.3 Photos of the Technology

2.5 Country/ region/ locations where the Technology has been applied and which are covered by this assessment

Country:

Oman

Region/ State/ Province:

Kingdom of Saudi-Arabia; Qatar; Kuwait; Bahrain; United Arabic Emirates

Specify the spread of the Technology:

• applied at specific points/ concentrated on a small area

Is/are the technology site(s) located in a permanently protected area?

No

Map

×

2.6 Date of implementation

Indicate year of implementation:

2011

2.7 Introduction of the Technology

Specify how the Technology was introduced:

• during experiments/ research
• through projects/ external interventions

3.1 Main purpose(s) of the Technology

• reduce risk of disasters
• adapt to climate change/ extremes and its impacts
• create beneficial economic impact

3.2 Current land use type(s) where the Technology is applied

Land use mixed within the same land unit:

No

Cropland

• Tree and shrub cropping

Tree and shrub cropping - Specify crops:

• dates

Is intercropping practiced?

No

Is crop rotation practiced?

No

3.3 Has land use changed due to the implementation of the Technology?

Has land use changed due to the implementation of the Technology?

• No (Continue with question 3.4)

3.4 Water supply

Water supply for the land on which the Technology is applied:

• mixed rainfed-irrigated

3.5 SLM group to which the Technology belongs

• forest plantation management

• Improved Pollination

3.6 SLM measures comprising the Technology

agronomic measures

• A7: Others

management measures

• M2: Change of management/ intensity level

other measures

Specify:

Liquid Pollination

3.7 Main types of land degradation addressed by the Technology

soil erosion by water

• Wt: loss of topsoil/ surface erosion

biological degradation

• Bq: quantity/ biomass decline

3.8 Prevention, reduction, or restoration of land degradation

Specify the goal of the Technology with regard to land degradation:

• adapt to land degradation

4.1 Technical drawing of the Technology

Technical specifications (related to technical drawing):

Drone equipment used for showering. Drone may vary; this drone has a length of around 1 meter and a width of around 0.74 meter.

4.2 General information regarding the calculation of inputs and costs

Specify how costs and inputs were calculated:

• per Technology area

other/ national currency (specify):

Omani Riyal

If relevant, indicate exchange rate from USD to local currency (e.g. 1 USD = 79.9 Brazilian Real): 1 USD =:

0.39

4.4 Costs and inputs needed for establishment

Comments:

The purchase costs of a drone and the related devices is estimated at 8000 Omani Riyal.

4.5 Maintenance/ recurrent activities

Comments:

Firstly, to cut off the male spathes, to avoid losses of pollen. This is when the spathe begin to ripe, usually in February-March .Secondly, the spathe is brought to a temperature controlled room (18-22 degrees Celsius) to dry for some days. Thirdly, after these days, the inflorescence is cut from the spathe, and left to dry further. The inflorescence should be dried in dark place to maintain viability. Fourthly, as the moisture content of the inflorescence decreases, its flowers begin to open and the pollen are released. Therefore, pollen can now be extracted from the inflorescence. This can be done manually or mechanically. Finally, the pollen are mixed with water in a ratio of four grams pollen to one liter water, suitable for pollination roughly 50 date palms. Pollination is done in March-April, and is done mechanically with a pump system.

4.6 Costs and inputs needed for maintenance/ recurrent activities (per year)

If you are unable to break down the costs in the table above, give an estimation of the total costs of maintaining the Technology:

518.0

Comments:

Regarding cost estimations: there are typically 140 date palms per hectare. This relates to 28 required inflorescences that are processed into 560 grams of pollen following the advice as described above. The cost per inflorescence is around 6 Omani Riyal. 1 Omani Riyal is 2.6 USD. The actual pollination through a drone, also known as showering, costs around 150 Omani Riyal. Showering is done four times each consisting of an operation time of 3 hours, so 12 hours in total. In other words, the total cost per hectare for applying this liquid pollination through showering is estimated at around 518 Omani Riyal, or 1,350 USD.

5.1 Climate

5.2 Topography

Indicate if the Technology is specifically applied in:

• not relevant

5.3 Soils

5.4 Water availability and quality

Is water salinity a problem?

Yes

Is flooding of the area occurring?

No

5.5 Biodiversity

5.6 Characteristics of land users applying the Technology

5.7 Average area of land used by land users applying the Technology

5.8 Land ownership, land use rights, and water use rights

Land ownership:

• state
• individual, titled

Land use rights:

• communal (organized)
• individual

Water use rights:

• communal (organized)

Are land use rights based on a traditional legal system?

Yes

5.9 Access to services and infrastructure

6.1 On-site impacts the Technology has shown

Socio-economic impacts

Production

Income and costs

Socio-cultural impacts

6.3 Exposure and sensitivity of the Technology to gradual climate change and climate-related extremes/ disasters (as perceived by land users)

Gradual climate change

Gradual climate change

6.4 Cost-benefit analysis

How do the benefits compare with the establishment costs (from land users’ perspective)?

How do the benefits compare with the maintenance/ recurrent costs (from land users' perspective)?

Comments:

Return of investment in the short term is slightly negative due to high investment costs.

6.5 Adoption of the Technology

• 1-10%

Of all those who have adopted the Technology, how many did so spontaneously, i.e. without receiving any material incentives/ payments?

• 0-10%

6.6 Adaptation

Has the Technology been modified recently to adapt to changing conditions?

No

6.7 Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities of the Technology

6.8 Weaknesses/ disadvantages/ risks of the Technology and ways of overcoming them

7.1 Methods/ sources of information