With the attendance of 93 farmer and expert in the Date Palm cultivation sector, and representing 11 Arab countries.

The Date Palm Friends Society in the United Arab Emirates organized the first virtual lecture in its cultural season 2020, presenting “The most important insects and fungal pests that infect Date Palm trees”, by Dr. Walid Kaakeh - Agricultural expert at Global Experts for Agricultural and Environmental Consultancy, on Wednesday evening the 5^th of August, 2020. The lecture was attended by 93 participant, representing 11 Arab countries, among which are members of the Date Palm Friends Society in the UAE, farmers, and Agricultural experts.

Dr. Abdelouahhab Zaid, Executive Director of the Date Palm Friends Society, expressed his felicity with the achievements of the society throughout its rich journey in activities, events and the services achieved and provided to farmers and lovers of the blessed tree, the Date Palm tree. Thanks to the wise directives and continuous support of His Highness Sheikh Nahayan Mabarak Al Nahayan, Minister of Tolerance and Coexistence, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Date Palm Friends Society in the UAE.  Dr. Zaid also added that this virtual lecture held via Zoom, comes within the society’s framework and commitment to spread the scientific knowledge and awareness on the insects and fungal pests that affect date palms, and providing technical and scientific advice and support to farmers to help them face challenges.

From his side, Dr. Walid Kaakeh, the lecturer, highlighted during the lecture, the development and scientific progress which helped in adopting many methods, and techniques that aimed to control date palm trees pests that had an economic impact, and which then contributed in the success of several control programs and reduced the damage caused by these pests. Awareness and guidance is considered the first line of defense to limit the spread of these pests. The knowledge and working on solving such problems is the responsibility of the agricultural extension technicians. This obliges the necessity of guiding farmers and agricultural assistants from all over the country, to confront dangers that could affect the date production.

 Dr. Kaakeh, presented scientific and technical information, guidance and recommendations to Date Palm farmers, such as: The basics of diagnosing symptoms of insect and fungal infection, classification of diseases and pests according to the severity of their impact on date palm trees, as well as the most important economic impacting pests and the extent of its effect on date palm trees. He then presented the latest methods and technologies of prevention and control. Focusing also on the integrated management of the red palm weevil and several others such as (Al-Azouq and Longhorn Palm Stalk beetle). In addition to the most important pests, symptoms or pathological phenomena on palm trees, the damage they cause, and ways to control them. Some of the fungal diseases such as (black scorch, fusarium wilt disease and leaf spot) were highlighted.