The Palm Picker

A unique tool to Akhang-Ahvar farmers is the palm picker. This is an 18 to 20-foot pole with a hooked blade on the end which is used to cut down bunches of dates and other fruits from high in the palm trees.
The fruit growers and harvesters previously used trained birds, monkeys or even children to shim up the tree and gather the produce in baskets. The trees are quite tall and rather spiny towards the crown so picking by hand was slow, delicate work. After several deaths from falls and much loss of fruit to fighting among birds and monkeys, it became more efficient and soon much more acceptable to use this tool instead. The hook is raised to the attaching branch and the fruit is caught in baskets or blankets to minimise bruising.
At the time of the water festival, tourists can try out their skills at fruit hooking for a small contribution, rarely matching the talented farmers for speed and accuracy!

Mechanics & Inner Workings

A very long, bottom-heavy pole that can be manoeuvred by well-practised users to cut fruit and leaves from tall palms and other trees.

Manufacturing process

A suitable withy is selected from trees produced particularly for their straight growth and treated with oils and sand to make it smooth and strong. Many shafts are then wrapped together to force them to ripen as straight as possible. The hook is created to fit the end of the shaft from bronze or iron, resembling a short sickle in shape. Once this is fitted and lashed in place, the counterweight is attached to the grip end to match the weight of the shaft and the hook.

Significance

Culturally significant to desert dweller.

Item type

Tool

Current Location

City of Akhang-Ahvar

Subtype / Model

The Palm Picker

Used by

• The Palm Picker

Rarity

Rare, crafted by skilled artisans from palm stems or bamboo.

Weight

20lb

Dimensions

20ft x 2"

Base Price

10 gold

Raw materials & Components

A single length of flexible wood, treated for durability and wrapped at the grip with leather or goat pelt.

Tools

Common woodworking tools and leather working tools are used to make the pole. The hook is forged from bronze or, more recently, iron.