The traditional "Al-Kar" tool continues to be present in the farms of the Qassim region, where it is considered one of the essential traditional tools that enabled farmers to climb palm trees for decades before the advent of modern methods. It is still widely used due to the efficiency and speed it provides in performing agricultural tasks at the top of the palm tree.

A report explained that "Al-Kar" is associated with the profession of "Al-Tali'" or "Al-Nakkal," the specialized climber of palm trees, who performs precise tasks such as pollination, bending, cleaning, pruning, and harvesting fresh dates and dried dates, relying on inherited experience, physical strength, and great balance.

Developments in the Manufacturing of Al-Kar

The report noted that traditional "Al-Kar" often consists of a belt made of braided palm fiber and ropes, encircling the palm trunk and the climber's body. In recent years, it has seen developments using metal wires, padded fabrics, and industrial materials resistant to wear, while maintaining its basic concept of securing the climber around the trunk to ensure safety during ascent.

It added that the method of using "Al-Kar" relies on encircling the trunk with the belt and moving gradually upward by pushing the feet and moving the belt step by step, in a process requiring perfect coordination between hands and feet, as well as experience in balancing and handling different trunk sizes.

The Role of Al-Kar in the Agricultural Production Cycle

For his part, farmer Abdulrahman Al-Muhsin pointed out that "Al-Kar" has contributed over the years to the continuity of the palm climbing profession, as a professional climber can complete his work on a large number of palm trees daily thanks to his skill and speed in using the tool.

In the same context, Al-Muhsin affirmed that "Al-Kar" remains preferred by many specialists for its lightness, ease of use, and low cost compared to mechanical means, especially in traditional farms or areas where equipment access is difficult, despite the introduction of some modern cranes in large farms.

It is worth noting that the manufacturing of "Al-Kar" has become a hereditary handicraft, with craftsmen competing to improve it in terms of material quality, durability, and user comfort, while preserving its authenticity, so that it remains a testament to the close relationship between humans and the palm tree in Saudi agricultural heritage.