The olive harvest in Idleb northwestern Syria faced a significant decline this year largely due to rainfall shortage adding hard burdens on farmers, agriculture officials said Sunday.
A statement shared with SANA by Director of Agriculture in Idleb ‘Mustafa Muwahhid,’’ that “olive trees experienced severe water shortage during the flowering period, which prevented them from reaching the fruit-setting stage.”
He emphasized that the olive oil produced in Idleb is classified as extra virgin, as farmers rely on traditional methods with minimal use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides.
Muwahhid revealed that “the estimated quantity of this season’s olive crop is around 55,000 tons,” a figure that reflects the weakness of this year’s yield.
Syria faces the worst droughts in nearly 40 years driving food production to alarming lows and placing unbearable pressure on thousands of farmers across the country, Food and Agriculture Organization have said.
Olives are considered one of the most important agricultural crops in Idleb, with the governorate renowned for the quality of its oil, which serves as a primary source of income for thousands of families.
