The Authority's Palm Trees... Die Standing in the Streets
The establishment of the Public Authority for Agriculture and Fishery Resources dates back to May 15, 1983. Despite the joy we felt at its inception, driven by the belief that Kuwait would become a lush garden where trees, flowers, and agricultural and fishery products would flourish, and that we would at least meet our own agricultural needs, we do not wish to return to the situation we experienced roughly four years ago, or perhaps slightly more. Nevertheless, I knocked on the doors of the “neglected” street palm trees, urging the Authority to pay attention to these thirsty palms. I hoped, even if only as a “waking dream,” that the Authority would roll up its sleeves and launch an uprising to restore at least a measure of life to the palm trees. Unfortunately, our voices went unheard, and the condition of the palm trees remained at its worst this “oven-like” summer.
Anyone strolling through the streets and observing the state of the palm trees feels pain over the large sums spent by the Authority on planting palm trees that have suffered from neglect for years—an issue that was not within its purview and had no relation to it. There are drip irrigation pipes, and I do not even speak of water rationing to conserve it. Palm trees require care, natural fertilizer, pollination, and “bagging” to yield the desired production, yet none of this is visible in the street palm trees, which remain either leaning, thin, or awaiting their death certificate. Street palm trees are dying while standing, panting from thirst, at a time when they could have been cared for, thereby generating annual production to cover the local market and perhaps even for export. It seems the Authority has no desire for this. How many palm trees have announced their death due to thirst, neglect, and lack of care? The amounts spent were like tissues—useless.
The palm tree is mentioned in the Holy Quran, where Allah, the Exalted, says: “And the palm trees, standing tall, having clusters of fruit hanging low” (Qaf: 10), and He also says: “And shake toward you the trunk of the palm tree; it will drop upon you ripe, fresh dates” (Maryam: 25). These noble verses reveal the value of the palm tree in the Holy Quran and in our contemporary lives. As we see street palm trees panting, searching for a single drop to save them from death, will the Authority restore to the street palm trees their right to water and life?
Yousef Al-Shaheen
