Dates and their different uses in food in some of south-west oases of Algeria: Touat, Gourara and Tidikelt Blama. A1; Zaki. A2; Mousaui. Abstract of variety, there is a particular B3; Babker. A4. Bakhti. A5 method of its use. Dates are considered as the most 1. The National Institute of important food in the south-west Despite the fact dates palm Agricultural of Algeria Research; oases of Algeria, particularly the could suffer from diseases in this 2,3 Experimental Station of Adrar; area of Touat, Gourara and Tidikelt. part of Algeria such as Boufarwa 4. Ecole Normale Superieure (Oligonychus afrasiaticus) , El jarab (ENS) Bouzaréah;5. University of The Dates palm (Phoenix el abiad (Parlaoria blanchardi) and Biskra Mohamed Khider. dactylifera) has known some kind Bayod* (Fusarium oxysporum of specificity in its different life albedinis), the community of this [email protected] phases, compared to all the rest area are still preserving the heritage of oases cultivar plants. It is tanks of the ancestors, concerning the to that people could settle down. date palm in general and date in They built their houses; they ate particular, sustainable of food. from its various fruits. A study Specifically that is the one present within a ministerial research project in all oasis occasions. about the dates palm variety in the previous areas has shown that The aim of the current study was there are 400 spices of dates*. to examine the different methods of nutritional ate uses, which have Thanks to this diversification been adopted since old times to types, members of this community the current days all across the area were able to acquire experience in of Touat, Gourara and Tidikelt, by the field of the uses of date in their its inhabitants. Also to show the nutritional behavior, since date local skills sustained across the is available throughout the year. generations. Harvest begins for the early variety in June. As for the late variety it Key Word: begins in October. We find in this Dates variety and their uses; diversification, wet date, semi- Adrar Areas; Nutritional behavior; wet date and dry date. For each Sustained local skills. THE BLESSED TREE | MARCH 2018 73 Introduction Adrar, Timi, Tametit, Fonoghil, continental insert”(Atlas; 2002, Tamset, Zaouia Kouta, Inzegmir, p38) Palm tree is considered as the Sali, and Regan. symbol of oasis in the southern Number of drilled 559 of wich227 region of Algeria. It has had great 3- East South Region: Tidikelt operate, number of wells drilled role in people’s lives, both as which is composed of four 6626. Active foggaras 1400**** individuals and as a society. People municipalities: Aulef, Timoukten, (journal of agriculture and get their food even medicine from Akebli and Tit. Its area is about development; 2009) it. Most of all, it has entered even 24536 km2. Animals Resources: 347.000 heads into people’s social life. History has 4- West South Region: Tanzouft of sheep, 95.500 heads of goats; recorded it amongst of heritage which is composed of two 654 heads of cattle and 38.500 civilization, which characterized municipalities: Bourj Baji heads of camels. TOUAT (Adrar) area. It is included Moukhtar, and Timyawine. Its in our traditions and customs. 2- Nutritional uses of dates: area is about 132579 km2. Through this Ethnobotanical study, There is a strong relationship which touches all relationships The area is crossed by many between man in the area and palm between plants and human valleys: Imguden which end at tree. Men take care of irrigating beings, we describe some of the Gourara, the Messaoud valley and providing its soil with organic different uses of dates, the local which ends at Touat, and Great fertilizer. They are different ways craftsmanship and skills in this valley, which ends at Tidikelt. Adrar of attending to it. Palm tree, on industry. is characterized with its seasonal its part, provides various kinds winds such as sirocco, which is a Methods and Tools of date, which are exploited by hot wind known locally as Arifi or men in different way, such as for For the sake of studying date’s Sahid. human nutrition as well as food for nutritional uses in the region Vegetation: It is essentially animals. Also, tools invented since (Touat, Gourara, Tidikelt), we composed of oasises of palms time immemorial are still in use. have used a desk research and (more than 24 980 hectares), questionnaire. Besides this, we 1- Different Phrases of date thistle, and herbs and so on. have interviewed the peasants and ripening in the Region: The latter get broadly under the used our personal observations. following types of plants. Palm trees inflorescence (locally Also, there had been visits to the called Dokkar). Peasants start doing fields of palms and collecting These plants are classified in the process of pollination of palm information about the way palms relation to the types of land: such trees annually. Simultaneously, (both male and female), about as sand, clay, or salt. Also, they they start uttering some religious the way palms are made sustain adapt to the nature of climate prayers and blessing such as ‘in the bleaters and methods. such: (Aristada pungens), (Retam name of God’ and “Peace upon the Retama), (Carnilaca moncatha), Results, discussion Prophet Mohamed”. Dekkar and (Zygophyllum album), (Acacia date contains oestrogen, oestrone, 1- The Area of Study: raddiana), (Tamarx sp) (Salsola phosphorus, orginine, boron. foetida), (Tamarx sp) … Adrar is known for four major These substances help in cases geographical areas: Land availability: a total agricultural of impotence or the weakness of sperms. (Aroubi 2006).Also, it is area 338.000 ha. 1- Gourara region: located used locally to stop bleeding. After municipalities’ units, which Utilized agricultural area: 35.000 weeks of sterilization, first signs of border the big marsh of ha. An irrigated area: 27.200 ha. fruits emerge. Timimoun. These are: Ksar Ouled Water Resources: Moreover, there Kadour, Ouled Said, Timimoun, 2- Types of dates and its uses: is a huge amount of water in a Ouled Aissa, Talmin, Charwil, layer that is close to the surface, a- Soft dates: Mtarfa, Daldoul, and Ouaghrout. particularly towards the axis Prophets Mohamed PUH had his Its area is about 65203km2. of Adrar, Timimon, and Regan, breakfast which consisted of dates 2- Central Touat: It is composed of because there are the”complex before he prayed,(Abou Duaed). twelve municipalities, which are continental whose limits vary When date first ripens and the first located along Messaoud valley. according to the regions and that amounts are harvested, peasants These are: Tsabit, Sebaa, Bouda, one defines under the term of become happy and they exchange KHALIFA INTERNATIONAL AWARD 74 FOR DATE PALM AND AGRICULTURAL INNOVATION types of dates. Families consume A small exposure to sun helps to After that, it becomes ready to be from the dates crops and they perform the quality of the paste consumed throughout the year preserve the rest or sell it in the which takes a good consistence. without undergoing any kind of market. (Merzaia Blama; Zaki, The period of sun exposure vary rotting. Small particles of Sfouf are 2007). with the temperature (2 days in called Anghad. winter, mi-day in summer), the Anghad: It is the powder that is b- Semi-dry dates: bag is periodically returned for obtained through grinding dates. Many people of kssors preserve exposing its two faces to sun. Then It is given to babies as food, it in a special manner in bags of the bag is stocked in a dry place tranquilizer and something that cloth. They do that in the following and away from insects and the gives them energy. It has been manner: Good date is separated stock destructors. After one month from the bad (like the one which of preservation dates would be proven scientifically that it helps has shrivelled up). able for consumption (this period in the growth of children because may take several months in some it contains Phosphor, Calcium, After the boiled water is poured on region depending to the habitant which are important in building it so that to purify it and preserve needs). (Bekhti, 2008). and strengthening bones and it from rotting. It is let for a while teeth. Anghad also; is used to until it becomes soft. Date is preserved thus for months prepare padding, and sauces of and used when needed; for some popular local dishes such * Preparation of Btana. “To make instance, when there is a shortage Btana first of all dates were as bread of Kesra, bread of Redfa, of date in the market or on feasts andMardouf. cleaned up with fresh water to or other religious occasions such eliminate dust and other appeared as Ramadan. Azwa: It is the remnants of ground dirty as the rest of insects and the dates nuts, which is used as bird excrement. Varieties of dates suitable for this medicine for colic and a purifier of kind of preservation are: Tilmsou, wounds. This step is repeated many times Tazerzait, Masoudia, Takrbouchet, till enhancing soften dates. This Ahrtane. d- Honey of Palms: operation was done in cleaned performed metallic container, Some dishes such as Kaabouch, Falling palms honey is collected sometimes the villagers use a hot Rfis are prepared by the use and mixed with the seeders of water to soften drayed date then, of the Btana. They added to it some herbs.The latter are Kamoune dates were amalgamated and Laklilla dray cheese and millet The latter are: (Cuminum cyminum mixed for accelerate it softness. (pennisetum glaucum) grinded. L.) (Carum carvi L.),( Nigella sativa In the end of this stage, we obtain L), They are mixed together and c- Dry Dates: a paste of date which is usually given to babies in cases of colic piled up in proper plastic bag, or Uses of dry dates: Dry dates are and gases.