Outback date farm bounces back after crop destroyed by rain

The Northern Territory's largest date farm, located 70 kilometres south-east of Alice Springs, is making a strong recovery following the destruction of its annual harvest by heavy rains in February. The Desert Fruit Company, which owns the Tamara Date Plantation, has initiated pollination efforts for the upcoming crop, which is expected to be harvested by early March.

Early signs suggest a successful yield is on the horizon with the earlier-than-anticipated pollination process beginning in June. Workers at the farm manually pollinate the palm trees by removing pollen from male plants and transferring it to female plants. The farm, which typically experiences a biennial pattern in flowering, is currently thriving as workers bag saplings to protect them from birds and insects.

The largest market for the farm's Barhi dates, traditionally sold to Muslim communities during Ramadan, is now shifting due to Ramadan moving away from the harvest period. Despite this, the farm remains optimistic about the upcoming crop and is exploring new market opportunities.