Japanese ambassador climbs palm

Japan’s Ambassador to Egypt, Masaki Noke, visited a fruit orchard farm in Nubariya, Beheira west of the Nile Delta, the produce of which is grown for export. During his visit, the ambassador experienced climbing a date palm in the same way Egyptian farmers do to collect the ripe dates.

“I was very impressed with the large expansive orchard,” Ambassador Noki said. “It’s area appears to equal that of Beirut, the capital of Lebanon.” He listened with interest to the explanation given by the Head of Board of Directors Sherif Maghrabi. The farm grows various produce but especially palms, citrus trees, grapes, strawberries and lettuce and exports them to 57 countries around the world.

“The orange I picked and tasted is still not ripe enough to harvest, however, it was extremely tasty,” Mr Noke said. His toured the farm and was shown the modern irrigation methods, pest control means, and shipping facilities; he said he was impressed with the efficient meticulous management.

Seeing Egyptian young men climbing palms in the traditional age-old manner to collect the ripe dates, Mr Noke asked to learn to do the same. He was given a rope to tie around his waist and the palm trunk, so that he would cast it higher and climb with his bare feet, supported by the rope, then repeat the process till he reaches the dates.