The Missing Wealth

Sources of wealth are categorized into natural, industrial, and human resources. Naturally, each era has had a primary source of wealth; all these sources are found both beneath and above the earth. God has blessed the Gulf states with the blessings of oil, gas, and many minerals. Following the discovery of these valuable resources, which created a significant boom in the revenues and welfare of our countries, our region has become heavily dependent on these modern sources. However, as a Gulf saying goes, “Do not forget the present for the sake of the future.” We must not forget old natural resources such as agriculture and fishing. In the Arabian Gulf, there was great interest in cultivating date palms and producing dates; there were specific areas where palm cultivation was abundant, namely southern Iraq, Medina, and Al-Ahsa. As for the rest of the countries, they are consumers of dates, and it is not expected that these palms will be cultivated in desert areas. The Messenger of God (peace be upon him) recommended this blessed tree, likening the believer to a palm tree whose leaves do not fall. In fact, what caught my attention was the extensive cultivation of palms and the lack of attention to date production. We have approximately 2.5 million palm trees, of which 750,000 are productive. There is a private date factory that I previously visited, located in the Al-Wafra agricultural zone; however, it is evident that there is no coordination between the General Authority for Agriculture and Animal Wealth and this factory. It would be possible to collect this crop and sell it to specialized factories within Kuwait, rather than leaving it neglected on the trees. The palm tree is considered a complete food basket due to the following nutritional benefits: Dates provide quick energy because they are rich in natural sugars. They contain fiber that aids digestion. They are rich in minerals such as potassium, manganese, iron, and calcium, which are beneficial for blood and bones. We must not forget that dates and coffee constituted a complete meal relied upon by our ancestors. There are numerous health benefits: it strengthens nerves due to vitamin B, treats constipation due to its fiber content, and is beneficial for pregnant women, as mentioned in the Quran: “Shake toward you the trunk of the date palm.” There are also many economic benefits. The palm trunk was used to build the first mosque, with its roof covered by palm fronds and fibers. Additionally, palm fronds, fibers, and date pits can be used as animal feed; some people grind the pits and drink them as a caffeine-free coffee substitute. Environmental benefits: Palms tolerate salinity and heat as they thrive in the desert. They serve as windbreaks, stabilize soil, and reduce desertification. This aligns with the greening vision during the era of the late Sheikh Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah. This period, spanning from 1977 to 2006, was known as the “Era of Greening,” as Kuwait transformed from an exposed desert into a country with green spaces. He envisioned food security and environmental security as essential for quality of life. Among the most prominent projects and decisions was the Green Belt around Kuwait City, which was later extended from north to south. Subsequently, the General Authority for Agriculture and Animal Wealth took charge of improving tree quality. However, what saddens me today is seeing the trees’ thirst and the delayed neglect in utilizing these blessings. I often wished that we would pay attention and benefit from this lost wealth. Application of the law to regulate order falls under the laws governing society, and thus these laws must be enforced. The Committee for Encroachments, thankfully, removed violators and encroachments on state properties. After the Kuwait Municipality, with great courtesy, issued notices to all non-compliant locations, the response was unfortunately weak, leading to the use of force and revealing many encroachments that marred the appearance of residential areas. We hope that official authorities continue to apply the law to everyone without leniency. Casual Labor Following the removal of encroachments and the demolition of illegal buildings that violated municipal laws, a problem regarding labor camps has surfaced. This includes workers who have residency and employment but are confined to this area due to low rental costs. Unfortunately, there was no suitable housing for low-income workers, which created a housing crisis. This problem will persist unless there is a developed labor city under government supervision, for security control purposes. May God protect Kuwait and its people from all harm.