Syrian olive oil production is expected to reach 150,000 tons in the 2019/20 crop year, according to Mohamed Habou, the director of the Olives Office at the Syrian Ministry of Agriculture.
This represents a 50 percent increase compared with the previous crop year and will be the largest production total since the 2013/14 crop year.
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Syria has been involved in a bloody civil war since 2011 and was one of the main battlefronts against the so-called Islamic State from 2014 until earlier this year.
Habou attributed the increase in production to decreased fighting in the country and the reclamation of olive groves by the government, which has largely defeated the rebel forces against which it was fighting.
Climatic conditions are also expected to be slightly better this year. High heat and humidity last year led to a proliferation of the olive fruit fly, which damaged a lot of fruit from re-established olive groves.
The Syrian government is currently working on implementing measures to promote olive cultivation and oil production, including training seminars for farmers and producers as well as investments in milling technology.
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