Production and marketing indicators for some Egyptian date varieties

Egypt, Iraq and Saudi Arabia came to at the forefront of producing Arab states of dates, and the average production per hectare was highest in Egypt (about 23.1 tons). The average area of date trees in Egypt was about 62.6 thousand acres during the period (1990-2007). The study is intended primarily to shed light on the current status of the factors affecting the total production of dates in Egypt. In addition to studying the evolution of intermediaries prices in date market, and to identify the sidelines of marketing margin in accordance with the different varieties of dates. It was clear from the results of the study, the total production of dates has increased from about 542 thousand tons in 1990 to nearly 1.3 million tons in 2007, an average of about 902 thousand tons during this period. An annual increase of about 39.1 thousand tons, or about 4.34% of average annual total production during the period (1990-2007). With regard to the marketing margin for the retail phase of Zaghlool dates during the study period, an average of about L.E. 0.78 per kg, or about 48.37% of the average retail price during the same period. As for Hayani dates, the average marketing margin for the retail stage in urban areas about L.E. 0.66 per kg, representing approximately 49.62% of the retail price during the period (19982007). While the counterpart for this product in the rural areas about L.E. 0.54 per kg, which is representing 44.81% of the retail price during the study period. Results showed that the margin of the retail phase of the Ramly dates, with an average estimated at L.E. 0.63 per kg, representing approximately 48.41% of the retail price during the period (1998 -2007). For the Amhat Dates, the average margin of the retailer urban about L.E. 0.85 per kg, represents approximately 47.87% of the retail price. While the counterpart for this varity in rural areas about L.E. 0.52 per kg, represents approximately 45.9% of the retail price during the study period. As for the processed date, the average marketing margin of the retail stage in urban areas about L.E. 0.84 per kg, represents approximately 42.2% of the retail price during the same period. While the counterpart of the processed date about L.E. 0.76 per kg, or about 39.17% of the retail price during the same period.