Olive farmers advised to postpone harvest for enhanced oil quality

IRBID — The Irbid Agriculture Directorate, which oversees Jordan’s leading olive-producing region, has recommended that farmers delay their olive harvest until late November.

This suggestion is intended to allow the olives to fully mature, thereby significantly improving both oil yield and overall quality of the product, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported. 

Abdel Hafiz Abu Arabi, Director of Agriculture in Irbid, highlighted that the current weather conditions are ideal for olive maturation. He stressed the importance of monitoring the olives’ colour to determine the best harvest time.

"Harvesting too early will diminish the oil percentage in the olives, resulting in lower production volumes and comptomised quality, which in turn affects farmers' economic returns," Abu Arabi said.

He anticipated a 20-25% increase in olive oil production this season compared to last year, attributing the growth to favourable rainfall. Approximately 80,000 tons of olives are expected to be harvested, with 75% allocated for oil production and the remaining for pickling. The total olive oil output is estimated at around 12,000 tons.

The director also recommended that farmers store harvested olives in ventilated plastic crates or burlap sacks to preserve quality, as plastic bags negatively affect oil preservation.

He emphasised the need to press olives within 36 hours of harvesting to ensure optimal oil quality. Irbid’s 52 olive presses will open on October 15 to assist in processing the season’s yield, with olive cultivation spanning 200,000 dunums in the region.

Abu Arabi further advised farmers to avoid mixing fallen olives with freshly picked ones, as this can degrade the quality of the oil. After the harvest, he recommended pruning olive trees and removing diseased branches while applying organic fertilizers to promote better growth in future seasons.