Doha, Qatar: The first winners of the Golden Dates Basket Competition have been announced at the 11th Local Dates Festival at Souq Waqif, with Al Taher Farm taking first place in the Shishi category and earning a prize of QR7,000.
Asaat Al Raai Farm secured second place and received QR5,000, while Nasser bin Jassim Al Thani Farm took third place with a prize of QR3,000.
The results mark the beginning of a competition that places Qatar’s local farmers and their finest date harvests at the heart of the festival, highlighting the care, expertise and dedication involved in cultivating the country’s date palms.
The Golden Dates Basket Competition provides farmers with an opportunity to showcase carefully selected produce and compete according to detailed quality standards. Beyond recognising individual winners, the initiative seeks to encourage farmers to improve production quality, adopt best agricultural practices and contribute to the continued development of Qatar’s domestic agricultural sector.
For the farmers taking part, each basket represents the outcome of months of cultivation and care. The competition’s judging criteria place particular emphasis on the quality of the fruit, including optimal ripeness, size and uniformity, as well as the overall presentation and visual appeal of the basket.
The condition of the dates is also carefully considered, with entries expected to be free from insect damage and other defects. These standards encourage farmers to pay close attention to every stage of production, from cultivation to harvesting and presentation. The Shishi category is one of five categories featured in the competition, alongside Mixed, Barhi, Khenaizi and Khalas. The categories provide a platform for farmers to demonstrate the distinctive characteristics and quality of different locally cultivated date varieties.
The competition is being held over five non-consecutive days during the Local Dates Festival, with winners announced at the end of each competition day. Farmers participate through registration and basket submission before their entries are assessed by a specialised judging committee.
The competition’s prize structure further encourages farmers to strive for excellence, with QR7,000 awarded to first place, QR5,000 to second place and QR3,000 to third place in each category on the designated competition days. But the significance of the Golden Dates Basket Competition goes beyond the prizes. It creates a healthy competitive environment in which farmers can showcase their achievements and raise the standards of local production.
It also offers visitors a closer look at the agricultural work behind the dates found in Qatar’s markets and homes. A carefully presented basket may appear simple at first glance, but each entry reflects the farmer’s attention to ripeness, consistency, appearance and quality.
Held at Souq Waqif’s Eastern Square from July 25 to August 10, the competition forms part of the wider Local Dates Festival, bringing agricultural producers and the public together in one of Doha’s most prominent traditional settings.
