The terms and conditions for this year’s ‘Mazayin Al Ratab’ half-ripe date rearing competition have been announced.

As part of the sixth Liwa Date Festival, organised by the Abu Dhabi Authority for Heritage and Culture (ADACH), the competition is just one of the many initiatives designed to educate farmers on the best practices for rearing and caring for palm trees and dates. The competition includes the following categories: Khallas, Dabbas, Abu Maan, Fardh, Khanizi (new to the 2010 competition) and Nukhba.

The 2010 Liwa Date Festival will run from 17th-26th July in Al Gharbia. As well as the competition, there will much more to see and do such as cultural games and activities for the whole family, a large market, and a competition for the best heritage dish.

For more details and information, visit www.adach.ae

The rules
Obaid Khalfan Al Mazrouei, Director of the Liwa Date Festival, has declared the following regulations:

Dates must be produced in the UAE

Participants must bring produce from their own farms (and show written proof of that, along with proof of their farm ownership when registering)

Dates must be of the 2010 season, 50 percent Ratab, in a suitable state of ripeness (ripe dates are ruled out)

Only one type of date per category, however, in the ‘Nukhba’ category, no less than 15 types must be submitted to be registered

Dates must be free of infections or insects (or their eggs or waste), with no apparent defects such as metal or sand impurities or burns and black spots

They must not have an unusual smell or taste

They must not be fertilized (they will be lab tested)

Dates must be submitted in ‘Mukhrafa’ and must weigh 4-5kg in the initial category, and 2-3kg in the
‘Nukhba’ category

Participants must comply with deadlines when handing in samples and produce them according to the categories and dates specified – these specifications will be announced at a later date

Contestants must accept all decisions made by the organising committee and appointed judges