The Directorate of Agriculture in Homs Governorate estimates the current season's olive production at approximately 85,000 tons, as farmers face significant challenges including high harvesting costs, labor wages, and fuel prices, while the price of an olive oil tin remains undetermined, hindering the estimation of expected returns from the season.
The head of the Olive Branch at the Homs Directorate of Agriculture, Engineer Manira Al-Ali, stated that preliminary estimates indicate a noticeable increase in this season's production compared to last season, attributing this to improved rainfall during the current year. She noted that the cultivated area amounts to approximately 96,000 hectares, comprising 16 million trees, of which 14 million are fruit-bearing.
Al-Ali added that the Directorate of Internal Trade and Consumer Protection has set the pressing fee for one kilogram of olives at 5 Syrian pounds, while the price for a tin of olive oil for the current season has not yet been determined. She pointed out that rising fuel prices and labor wages constitute the main challenges for farmers during harvesting and production.
For his part, farmer Ahmed Mahdi Al-Zein, who owns 20 dunams of olive trees, confirmed that the current season saw good production due to land plowing, fertilization, and tree care since winter. However, he noted that rising production costs, coupled with lower oil prices compared to previous years, limit economic returns despite the abundant harvest.
Source: Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA)
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