Agriculture Ministry expects production of 200,000 tonnes of olives this season

AMMAN — The Ministry of Agriculture on Monday expected 200,000 tonnes of olives to be produced this season, marking a 25 per cent increase from last season’s 150,000 tonnes.

Izzat Ajalin, the ministry’s assistant secretary general for plant wealth, said that last year’s rainy season was beneficial for olive trees and there were no reports of olive fruit flies this season, which “positively reflected on this season’s quantity and quality”, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

Ajalin also noted farmers’ awareness of the importance of nurturing olives trees, especially in using pest control, which also contributed to this year’s production.

He said that oil quantities this year are expected to range between 23,000 and 25,000 tonnes, which is “sufficient” to meet local and export demands, in addition to 30,000 to 50,000 tonnes for pickling.

The ministry official also said that Jordanians consume 25,000 tonnes of pickled olives annually, adding that the prices of olive oil are subject to supply and demand. 

Ajalin highlighted that, in order to support local products and the 35 olive presses nationwide, olive imports and exports are suspended for the first time this year.

He noted that the number of olive trees amounts to 11 million, which are planted on about 580,000 dunums.

Jordan is ranked 8th internationally in olive oil production, according to Department of Statistics data, which also says that olive trees cover 72 per cent of agricultural land in Jordan.