Diseases kill four million palm trees in Oman

Diseases and water shortages have killed nearly four million palm date trees in Oman over the past few years, prompting plans to plant nearly one million trees, local newspapers reported on Monday.

From around 12 million seven years ago, the number of palm trees in the Gulf country has plunged to about eight million, they said, quoting a report by the Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

“The decline was a result of water shortages in some areas and the spread of tree diseases. This has prompted a programme to plant one million palm trees in the Sultanate,” the report said.

Palm date is the theme of a conference that began in Oman on Monday with the participation of experts from Oman and other Arab countries.