authors
Ahmad Al-Mansour, Fahad Bin Hadi and Ranya Khaled

abstract
Small-scale production of date palm present juice and Gur has long served as a traditional livelihood activity across South Asian and Middle Eastern regions. However, the economic viability of this sector remains insufficiently quantified, despite its potential for income enhancement and rural value addition. The present research investigates the profitability, cost-benefit patterns, and emerging opportunities for value-enhanced products within the small-scale date palm juice and Gur sector. Data were collected from producers, intermediaries, and small processing units using structured surveys and field observations. Economic indicators including net return, gross margin, cost of production, labour efficiency, and value-added ratios were analyzed to identify the competitive strengths and limitations of the existing system. Results reveal that small-scale producers demonstrate favourable benefit-cost ratios, primarily due to low input requirements and the high market demand for natural sweeteners. However, profitability fluctuates due to seasonality, weather influences on sap yield, post-harvest losses, and limited access to improved tapping and processing technologies. The research finds substantial potential for value-added diversification such as flavoured Gur, vacuum-concentrated liquid jaggery, organic certified products, and nutraceutical-oriented sweeteners. Enhanced market linkage, entrepreneurial training, and small-scale mechanization are identified as critical drivers for economic sustainability. Furthermore, the value-chain assessment shows that producers capture significant margins when involved in processing and direct marketing, compared to raw sap selling. Policy implications include targeted financial schemes, technology dissemination, and cluster-based development for improving smallholder profitability. This research contributes to understanding how traditional agro-processing activities can be strategically upgraded to strengthen rural economies. The findings underscore that with improved hygiene, packaging, and branding, date palm present juice and Gur can transition from seasonal commodities to stable value-added food products. Overall, economic viability improves significantly when producers adopt efficient processing practices, integrate value-added innovations, and access wider markets through cooperative and digital marketing platforms.