The second phase of the Buraidah Dates Carnival started today at the Palm Center in Buraidah with a variety of activities, including industry pavilions, crafts from families working in the cottage industry, poetry sessions, music performances, a children's zone, which are going to run for three weeks. The carnival committee's secretary general, Dr. Khaled Al-Naqidan, presented the carnival's activities, commending the governor of the Qassim region, Prince Dr. Faisal bin Mishal bin Saud bin Abdulaziz, for giving impetus to the date sector, and making Qassim, with its over 11 million palm trees, the world's leading date producer. Emphasis is put on improving the production of preserves and by-products, like sugar and jams, and helping families display goods like kleija and maamoul during the carnival. Source: Saudi Press Agency