The organs of the date palm: an ecologically clean raw material for human use in the Algerian Sahara.

Abstract

The region of Ouargla, located in the south-east of Algeria, is one of the main dateproducing areas. Date palm is a source for and various products. It produces, every year, dates that are, traditionally, considered as a basic food for the local community as well as a commercial product. This phoenicicole biomass is also used for different purposes (building, heating, fodder, cooking, agriculture, therapy and cosmetics). This study aims to value the products of oasis land, through date palms products, and to endeavor to highlight the economic importance of these products and their uses in order to consider strategies for developing this patrimony. Nine sites are retained for investigation. They represent localities which are notorious for having kept, so far, knowledge and know-how in the use of dates as well as other organs of the date palm, and where these products are likely integrated in the socio-economic life of their populations. The aim is to determine the raw material of production, the uses of the date palm organs, dates’ fields of usage and the importance of the products derived from the phoenicicol mass in the commercial environment. We noticed that the organs of the date palm, which are considered as a raw material, are available in a considerable tonnage. An important range of sub-products is derived from the date palm. It is used in basket-making (utensils, cabinetmaking, and garden-work material) and as a livestock aliment with high economic revenue. Besides, these organs (palms, spines, petiole, seeds, sap, pollen…) are used in making medicinal and cosmetic products. All in all, these products are biological and start making their place in modern trade, which might give a new dynamic to the local and national economy.