The Ministry of Environment and Water has launched an initiative to market dates in a bid to encourage growers to expand growing good varieties of dates to supplant the low economic yielded ones and improve dates specifications that can bring in more money and find good marketing opportunities. 
Sultan Alwan , acting undersecretary for agricultural affairs  disclosed that  200 , 000 packages have been given over to dates growers to be packed with dates and bear the motto " Our own  product" and some coloured photos  of date varieties . He added that the method of packing would be  in the form of  a two – kilo stalk in each container and only five varieties ( Khlas , Birhi, , Khneezi, as early ones ) and ( Lulu , Khsab as late ones)  had been selected for marketing.

Sultan pointed out that the financial return of marketing Rutab would increase 35% over dried dates . He continued saying that 55 growers would take part in marketing their products in 48 centres of the LULU CENTRE and the number is likely to increase.
 
Based on the outcome of marketing this growing season , exporting dates issue could be determined ; however , LULU CENTRE which we had contract with , would export Rutab of Berhi and Lulu in the unripe stage  and later date exportation would be fixed .

Engineer Mansoor ,director of agricultural development department said that the Rutab season, fourth stage of dates starts in July and ends in October . Its content of water is high and consumers like it very much due to its good taste and nutritional value.

Mansoor added that the Ministry guides growers to the methods of cutting , cleaning , cooling  and freezing stalks of Rutab. He continued saying that rutab safety should be checked every (15) days  and   storage be about one third of the store. 
As for rutab conditions , Mansoor pointed out that maturity should be 50% and determined either by looking or by measuring the sugar normal content which is 45% ; otherwise they couldn't be cut .