Saravan – The traditional "Hamin" date harvest season has officially begun in Saravan County, the top date-producing region in southeastern Iran’s Sistan and Baluchestan Province.

 

Iraj Rostam Zehi, Director of the Agricultural Jihad Office in Saravan, announced that the county boasts 3,800 hectares of productive palm groves, yielding nearly 24,000 tons of dates annually. The majority of the crop consists of premium Mozafati and Rabbi varieties.

 

He noted that with the arrival of the Hamin season, local farmers have also begun the traditional "Machband" process—an age-old method of pruning and arranging palm fronds. “This is followed by the coloring phase, during which the dates gradually shift to vibrant hues of yellow, red, and orange.”

 

The next stage, known as the “color transition,” involves the natural shedding of spoiled or overripe dates, which enhances airflow and promotes healthier fruit development, the official added.

 

Rostam Zehi praised Saravan's pivotal role in bolstering Iran’s date industry, attributing the region’s success to strong collaboration between farmers and agricultural experts, combined with modern cultivation practices that have elevated both fruit quality and farmer satisfaction.