Dates are a famous produce of Dera Ismail Khan. Dhaki, a small village in this northwestern Pakistani region, is known for its chuara -- dry palm dates with hardened skin. These dates are distinguished by their distinct flavor and are considered a concentrated source of nutrients. Photographer Sa'adia Khan recently traveled to Dhaki to document how the dates there are grown and processed.
The Dried Dates Of Dhaki
1
The view of a date plantation in Dhaki, Dera Ismail Khan. The region's hot climate in Pakistan's northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province supports date production. Some 100 plantations the region produce 90,000 kilograms of dates annually.
2
A date tree comes of age at three years and begins to bear fruit. It reaches its peak at 15 years.
3
A date tree at a plantation that has reached its peak for bearing fruit.
4
Dhaki dates are comparatively larger in size and yellow in coloring when they are ripe and harvested. The harvesting process continues for 15 days, relying on adequate weather conditions in August.