Syrian Olive Oil Production Set for Large Increase
Syrian olive oil proÂducÂtion is expected to reach 150,000 tons in the 2019/20 crop year, repÂreÂsentÂing a 50 perÂcent increase from the preÂviÂous year and the largest total since 2013/14, attribÂuted to decreased fightÂing and govÂernÂment efforts to reclaim olive groves. The increase is also due to improved cliÂmatic conÂdiÂtions and govÂernÂment meaÂsures to proÂmote olive culÂtiÂvaÂtion and oil proÂducÂtion, includÂing trainÂing semÂiÂnars for farmÂers and investÂments in milling techÂnolÂogy.
Syrian olive oil proÂducÂtion is expected to reach 150,000 tons in the 2019/20 crop year, accordÂing to Mohamed Habou, the direcÂtor of the Olives Office at the Syrian Ministry of Agriculture.
This repÂreÂsents a 50 perÂcent increase comÂpared with the preÂviÂous crop year and will be the largest proÂducÂtion total since the 2013/14 crop year.
See Also:Olive Oil Production Data
Syria has been involved in a bloody civil war since 2011 and was one of the main batÂtleÂfronts against the so-called Islamic State from 2014 until earÂlier this year.
Habou attribÂuted the increase in proÂducÂtion to decreased fightÂing in the counÂtry and the reclaÂmaÂtion of olive groves by the govÂernÂment, which has largely defeated the rebel forces against which it was fightÂing.
Climatic conÂdiÂtions are also expected to be slightly betÂter this year. High heat and humidÂity last year led to a proÂlifÂerÂaÂtion of the olive fruit fly, which damÂaged a lot of fruit from re-estabÂlished olive groves.
The Syrian govÂernÂment is curÂrently workÂing on impleÂmentÂing meaÂsures to proÂmote olive culÂtiÂvaÂtion and oil proÂducÂtion, includÂing trainÂing semÂiÂnars for farmÂers and proÂducÂers as well as investÂments in milling techÂnolÂogy.
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