After recording a record-breaking harvest in 2019, Tunisian olive oil producers are expecting a much more modest yield in 2020.
According to Ajmi Larbi, the head scientist at the country’s Olive Institute (Instituto L’Olivier), Tunisia is expected to produce between 130,000 and 140,000 tons of olive oil this year, down from the 400,000 tons recorded last year.
There is a very significant fluctuation from one year to another due essentially to the high yield of the olive trees (in the on-year), but also to the climatic conditions that are very severe in our country.- Ajmi Larbi, head scientist, Instituto L’Olivier
Larbi attributed the sharp production decrease to many producers entering an off-year, a lack of rainfall and poor farming practices employed by some of the country’s producers.
An “on-year” and ample rainfall in 2019 were credited for that year’s bumper crop.
See Also: 2020 Harvest Updates“There is a very significant fluctuation from one year to another due essentially to the high yield of the olive trees [in the on-year], but also to the climatic conditions that are very severe in our country,” Larbi said at a recent conference discussing the upcoming 2020 harvest.
Quality matters.
Find the world's best olive oils near you.
Larbi said most of Tunisia’s olive-growing regions received 150 millimeters (5.9 inches) of rainfall or less this year, far below average annual precipitation rates of between 250 and 300 millimeters (9.8 and 11.8 inches).
The problem of too little rainfall is also exacerbated in Tunisia by the fact that 95 percent of the country’s 1.9 million hectares (4.7 million acres) of olive groves are not irrigated.
Larbi also attributed last year’s late harvest and poor agronomic practices employed by farmers to the precipitous production decrease.
See Also: Industry Data Dashboard“In the years where we have good harvests, farmers remain harvesting until April,” he said. “[As a result], the trees are very depleted when it takes so long to harvest them.”
Larbi said better education for farmers, including better pruning practices and other agronomic techniques, would help alleviate this problem and close the gap between on- and off-years.
He remained, however, optimistic about the future of Tunisian olive oil production.
“During the last five to six years we have planted more than 100,000 hectares (nearly 250,000 acres), which is a new area that is going to come into production within two to three years,” Larbi said. “Soon we will have much more production in the years in which there are very favorable weather conditions.”
More articles on: 2020 olive harvest, production, Tunisia
Jan. 19, 2021
Tunisian Exporters See Opportunities Abroad
Tunisian exporters aim to expand their presence in China and consolidate their growing presence in the American market. Europe remains by far the largest importer of Tunisian olive oil.
Jan. 15, 2021
Producers Warn of 'Incalculable Damage' in Wake of Filomena
Asaja Madrid estimates that the region's olive harvest will fall by 35 percent as a result of the blizzard.
Jan. 4, 2021
California Table Olive Harvest Exceeds Expectations Despite Pandemic, Wildfires
The table olive harvest in the Golden State was between 9,000 and 15,000 tons larger than initially expected. The transition to high density groves has increased efficiency and quality, one of the state's main producers said.
Dec. 31, 2020
Uruguay Expects a Better Harvest Following a Disastrous One
Production is expected to rebound after a dismal harvest last year, but will not quite reach the highs of the 2018/19 crop.