KUWAIT: Sultan Al-Bohra Dr Mufaddal Saifuddin gifted 250 date palm trees as a gesture of support to the government and people of Kuwait, especially the farming community in the country. The date palm tree donation project is aimed at promoting sustainable agricultural options in the region, while also reducing the effects of climate change.

To inaugurate the project, Saifuddin planted a date palm tree alongside officials of the Public Authority for Agricultural Affairs and Fish Resources. “The cultivation of the date palm tree is crucial as per Kuwait’s national development plan to achieve food security, improve nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture. Dates are a major cash crop of the country and a means of livelihood for the farming community, hence this gift by the Sultan Al-Bohra to the people of Kuwait will provide long-term benefits,” a PAAAFR official said.

Sharing details about the project, Huzefa Yusuf, Project Coordinator of the Dawoodi Bohras of Kuwait added: “Around 2-meter-high date palm trees will be planted across four locations. Like his predecessors, Syedna Mufaddal Saifuddin has always guided the Dawoodi Bohra community to contribute to the protection and conversation of the environment. This date palm tree donation project is a manifestation of this commitment.”

The project is undertaken as part of the Dawoodi Bohra’s global philanthropic initiative, Project Rise, which works with local communities and organizations to provide better nutrition, health, access to water and environmental protection. Dr Mufaddal Saifuddin arrived in Kuwait on Sept 14, 2022 to mark the 40^th day of Imam Hussein’s sacrifice in Karbala. During his stay in the country, he met senior government officials and other dignitaries to discuss areas of mutual interest and cooperation. He also interacted with the Dawoodi Bohra community members and enquired about their holistic wellbeing.

The Dawoodi Bohra community has a long history in Kuwait, with over 23,000 community members residing in the country. Most of the members, who hail from Western India, have been at the forefront of the country’s economic progress by contributing as industrialists, traders and professionals across various fields. The community is also actively taking part in various social welfare projects, including cleanups and undertaking environmental projects.