Children show dried dates at Dahshur village in Giza, Egypt, on Sept. 21, 2022. (Xinhua/Ahmed Gomaa)
CAIRO, Sept. 21 (Xinhua) -- Egypt, one of the world's largest date palm producers, welcomes the date harvest season.
Dates are popular across Middle Eastern countries, not only for their taste but also for their remarkable health benefits. People can enjoy the fresh dates right after picking them up from the palms or enjoy dried dates which can last for a long time.
It is also an important source of income for many farmers here. The North African country seeks to achieve comprehensive development in the date palm sector.
According to the official statistics, Egypt produces over 1.7 million tons of dates annually, accounting for 21 percent of the world's total output. There are 14 million date palm trees in Egypt now, and the government plans to increase the number to 24 million.
A farmer dries dates at Dahshur village in Giza, Egypt, on Sept. 21, 2022. (Xinhua/Ahmed Gomaa)
A farmer harvests dates at Dahshur village in Giza, Egypt, on Sept. 21, 2022. (Xinhua/Ahmed Gomaa)
A farmer carries newly-harvested dates from a tree at Dahshur village in Giza, Egypt, on Sept. 21, 2022. (Xinhua/Ahmed Gomaa)
A farmer harvests dates on a tree at Dahshur village in Giza, Egypt, on Sept. 21, 2022. (Xinhua/Ahmed Gomaa)
A boy climbs a tree to help his father harvest dates at Dahshur village in Giza, Egypt, on Sept. 21, 2022. (Xinhua/Ahmed Gomaa) ■
