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. in linen bag or very originally into purified and crashed by using a Marissa: it is a mixture of date and an old goat skin. The dates paste is rock (schist) and another smaller water given to someone who has piled by layers, between each layer one (pebbles). a small pressure is established, underwent thirst in the desert. After that, perianth and nuts this aim to homogenate dates are removed from dates. Next, Conclusion repartition and the second date is ground in a big, wooden objective is to exclude the residual A date palm is a source of energy it pestle made out of wood. Then air from the bag. On each layer is a first and the last food of people it is blown through using a flat of this paste it is dispersed a of desert the prophet Mohammed container made out of palm trees small amount of a grind mixture (PBUH) said (a house that has leaves. After that remaining dust is of aromatic dried plants as like no dates is house of hungry) but removed. Big particles of ground as basil (Ocinum basilicum L.), we have to developed the system date are separated from smaller juniper (Juniperus communis L.), of conservation , we are able to ones. After that Safouf, which is the rosemary (Rosmarius officinalis benefit our ancient heritage. name of the result of this process, L.), wormwood (Artemisia herba- is put in another container made References: alba L. ), the main role of this plants also out of palm tree called Tadara. is to give an agreeable smell and 1-Merzaia BlamaA; Zaki A. An taste to dates. After filling, bag is Millet (pennisetum glaucum) flour Ethnobotanical Study about Touat attached and closed hermetically. and dry cheese are added to Sfouf. Region’s Palms, The National
THE BLESSED TREE | MARCH 2018 75 Table 1: Dates variety and their uses in the Touat, Gourara and Tidikelt.
Institute of Agricultural of Algeria * Inventory, characterization Between 1920 and 1940 the Research review. N° 20. 2007. and conservation cultivates of map of bayoud foci expanded dates palm in the different zones modestly. Two contaminations 2- Djerbi. M; 1983. Diseases of the phoenicicols of South-west of were particularly important, date palm. Regional project for Adrar area. INRAA .Station of in Adrar and In Salah regions, palm and dates research centre affected repetitively in 1930 and in the near east and North Africa. the research of Adrar. Ministerial 1941). (Djerbi; 1983) Baghdad. p 5 and 6. research project about the dates palm variety in ****The foggaras are galleries 3- Bakhti. A ; 2008, Évaluation under the surface of the desert, de la méthode traditionnelle de ** Bayoud is incontestably the most which serve as water pipes conservation de dattes « Btana » serious cryptogamic disease of the between the ground water and et contribution à l’identification de date palm (phoenix dactylifera l.) a palm grove…the foggaras sa microflore dominante. Memory it constitutes a veritable plague in seem to have been in use in the of Magistrate. Université de the date growing areas of parts of Algerian Sahara during the Middle Bechar. north Africa and a threat to those countries still unharmed by it. Ages(IV-X century). They exist in 4- Atlas of environment; Symbioses Bayoud is an epiphytotic disease the oases of the northern central edition. 2002. Algeria. p 38. 34. for which there is no known cure and Western Sahara. We find them more precisely in the Touat (region 5 -Rapport of the agriculture and at the present time. of Adrar and Reggane), in the development N°10. 2009 Bayoud was first observed in Gourara (region of Timimoun) and Directorate of Agricultural Services Morocco in Deraa valley, north of the Tidikelt (region of In Salah) of Wilaya of Adrar. zagora, sometime before 1870. (Atlas; 2002).
KHALIFA INTERNATIONAL AWARD 76 FOR DATE PALM AND AGRICULTURAL INNOVATION Selections
Trade Transformation to Live stock feeding BTANA
Wash up with cold water
Wash up with hot water
Mastic atement and amassing of formed dates paste
Spicement of date’s paste
Fill up the date paste in the bags
Attachament and sewing bags
Exposure bags to sun
Storage of bags in drayed area
Consumption Figure1: The different steps of Btana
THE BLESSED TREE | MARCH 2018 77 Drayed dates for livestock feeding Btana in cottoned bag
Btana in plastic bag Distributing Btana to welcome vistors in local popular festivities
Crushed dates named Saffoufe in traditional pot
KHALIFA INTERNATIONAL AWARD 78 FOR DATE PALM AND AGRICULTURAL INNOVATION CRC World Dictionary of Palms
Sa'ad Amin Rabi'a Smart Book Publishing & Distribution Abu Dhabi - UAE
Features number of species, geographic range, and a brief description. Introduction will explain the scope, coverage, and criteria for inclusion Provides not only the accepted of genera and species botanical names and common names, but also supplies vernacular ORGANIZATION: Genus names and orthographic variants (botanical) name with authorities, common names, and etymology. Presents data on eponymic Some entries will include the individuals that will be thorough,
THE BLESSED TREE | MARCH 2018 79 listing their most important synonyms and vernacular names of medicine to pursue his studies professional works, positions, and in many languages. in botany across the world and to literature references serve as a professor of botany at Bibliographies accompany each the University of Palermo. Highly Exhaustive bibliography serves entry, which are comprehensive, prolific, Quattrocchi has numerous as a departure point for more up-to-date and multi-lingual. The political and botanical books and detailed research; possible detailed information for every inclusion of footnotes for key and/ entry on habitats, economic articles to his credit, including or controversial entries uses, historical and biographical those on plants and gardening that data, botanical exploration, and have been published in Hortus and Summary linguistics will be useful for any The Garden. In 1997, he received library involved with botany, the prestigious Hanbury Botanical From the Foreword herbal medicine, pharmacognosy, Garden Award promoted by the Umberto Quattrocchi has brought medicinal and natural product Premio Grinzane Cavour for his us some amazing and useful works chemistry, ecology, ethnobotany, book Piante Rustiche Tropicali. through the various dictionaries systematics, general plant science, He received a second Hanbury that he has compiled. This time agriculture or horticulture. Award for the bestselling CRC it is for two very important plant Umberto Quattrocchi is the World Dictionary of Plant Names. families the palms and the cycads author of the bestselling CRC Quattrocchi is a member of the that are synthesized here in World Dictionary of Plant Names, International Dendrology Society, these two volumes. Each entry is winner of the prestigious Hanbury the Royal Horticultural Society, fascinating not just for the botany Botanical Garden Award. His most and the Botanical Society of and full nomenclature of the plant recent multi-volume work, CRC America. He is an elected Fellow species but for all the associated World Dictionary of Medicinal of the world-renowned Linnean uses, folklore and interactions and Poisonous Plants, received Society. with other organisms. ...These strong praise as being "... an entries are fascinating glimpses unparalleled starting place—a tool Abstract of natural history. ... Botanists, of first resort for any thoughtful Over the years, Umberto conservationists, ethnobotanists, researcher. Quattrocchi and CRC Quattrocchi has made a name by anthropologists, geographers, bird have delivered a dictionary like no providing very detailed, multiple watchers, naturalists, historians other, a learned finger pointing in volume sets on plants and their and those of many other disciplines the right direction." uses, e.g. CRC World Dictionary will find these volumes a most John de la Parra, Northeastern of Plant Names, CRC World valuable and useful resource. It University, Boston, Massachusetts, is the sort of book that will be in Dictionary of Grasses, and CRC USA, from Economic Botany, Vol. frequent use in my library. World Dictionary of Medicinal and 68, 2014 Poisonous Plants (Quattrocchi Professor Sir Ghillean Prance Content: 2000, 2006, 2012), all of which FRS, VMH, Former Director, Royal have served a wide variety of Botanic Gardens, Kew The two volumes contain entries users. The new two-volume set listed in alphabetical order. Following the same format as CRC World Dictionary of Palms. Umberto Quattrocchi’s highly Volume I Arecaceae A – G Common Names, Scientific Names, Eponyms, Synonyms, and praised and well-used previous Volume II, Arecaceae H - Z; Etymology follows this tradition.... works, The CRC World Dictionary of Cycadaceae and Zamiaceae; and Palms: Common Names, Scientific Cyclanthaceae Do you want to read the rest of Names, Eponyms, Synonyms, this article? and Etymology brings together Author Details: the vast and scattered literature Umberto Quattrocchi earned his CRC World Dictionary of Palms. on palms and cycads to provide first degree in political science Common Names, Scientific better access to information on from the University of Palermo. Names, Eponyms, Synonyms, these economically important He followed this achievement and Etymology. (Book review)... plants. Each genus and species with an M.D., specializing in Available from: smartbookuae@ has a detailed morphological obstetrics and gynecology. In gmail.com [accessed Jan 03 description and includes a list of 1992, he retired from the practice 2018].
KHALIFA INTERNATIONAL AWARD 80 FOR DATE PALM AND AGRICULTURAL INNOVATION