POTENTIAL OF COMMERCIAL CULTIVATION AND EXPANSION OF DATE PALM (PHOENIX DACTYLIFERA) IN WESTERN RAJASTHAN, INDIA

The vast geographical area in western Rajasthan state of Thar desert is climatically conducive for commercial cultivation of Phoenix dactylifera, commonly known as date palm. Availability of water for irrigation as well as thermal degree days in western Rajasthan are suitable for cultivation of this crop. Some of the cultivars among evaluated cultivars viz., ‘Barhee’, ‘Halawi’, ‘Khadrawi’, ‘Khuneiji’, ‘Medjool’, ‘Khalas’ and ‘Migraf’ are prominent and have indicated their suitability in this region. The spathe emergence begins in early February and tree ripened soft dates can be harvested by the end of June or early July. The maximum available thermal degree days are 185-190 in the extreme western district, Jaisalmer. Over the period of the last two decades a maximum production of soft dates to the tune of 150 kg/tree could be harvested in the cultivar ‘Khadrawi’.