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Although it is non-native to Gujarat's forest, it has been cultivated and naturalized across the arid and semi-arid landscape of Kachchh for over two centuries. Known locally as Kachchhi Kharek, the date palm agro-ecosystem in Mundra, Anjar, Mandvi, and Bhuj constitutes India's premier commercial date-growing belt (accounting for over 85% of India's commercial fresh date production), supported by historical maritime trade linkages between the Gulf of Kachchh and the Arabian Peninsula. In 2024, Kachchhi Kharek was formally granted the Geographical Indication (GI) tag, recognizing its unique agro-ecological heritage in Gujarat.
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