Agriculture in the Bahrain region during the Islamic times formed a basic pillar in the lives of the population and an important source of food and trade. Thanks to the nature of the region and the abundance of water in the oases and the presence of a fertile environment suitable for agriculture, the diversity of agricultural production between grains, legumes, fruits and vegetables, which made Bahrain a vital part of the Arabian Peninsula economy.
Grains and legumes: The pills occupied a prominent position after dates, and it was a major food that the population is indispensable until it was described as a “mother of food”.
Al -Bakri mentioned that the food of the people of the Arabian Peninsula was from wheat, barley, rice and jersey, and barley was one of the most important feed crops. Also, the large number of mills in Bahrain is evidence of the abundance of grain cultivation.
The accounts indicate that alms during the time of Harun al -Rashid were taken from the dates and grains together, which confirms its importance.
The cultivated grains such as wheat (righteousness), barley, tuberculosis, corn, and millet have varied, along with legumes such as lentils, lobbies, beings, livestones, and sesame. As for the rice, it was often imported from India, with attempts to grow it in the region thanks to the abundance of water in the oases, and it has been referred to its cultivation in Al -Ahsa since the Sumerian ages.
The residents were keen to store these pills in underground “burials” to protect them from damage.
Fruits: Bahrain’s agricultural status in the diversity and quality of fruits was evident, until geographic and travelers, such as Al -Idrisi and Ibn Battuta, praised them. Among the most prominent fruits are: pomegranate, banana known for its distinctive taste, and black and white grapes that Tarot was famous, and other crops such as figs, quince, berries, peach, and apricots were found.
Among the prominent fruits are also citrus fruits, such as lemon, lacquer, and narsal.
Aromatic vegetables and crops: besides grains and fruits, Bahrain was famous for cultivating multiple varieties of vegetables. The people planted the eggplant, onions, radish, carrots, cucumber and garlic, along with pumpkin and mustard.
It was also known as spice cultivation, such as pepper and skilles, as well as aromatic plants such as winds and saffron. Among the plants in which the region is famous for the ginger, which was mentioned in the Noble Qur’an.
In conclusion, it is clear from this offer that the Bahrain region in the Islamic times was rich in agricultural diversity, as it combined grains, legumes, fruits and vegetables, which made it an integrated agricultural region that helped meet the needs of the population, and contributed to regional trade.
This diversity also reflected the ability of the people of Bahrain to adapt to their environment and invest its natural resources efficiently, which gave them a distinguished position in the history of agriculture on the Arabian Peninsula.
