Drought and poor harvests are forcing Jordan to consider importing olive oil

Council, Jordan has produced an average of 25,500 tons of olive oil over the past five seasons—typically enough to meet domestic demand of around 22,000 tons per year. Unofficial estimates suggest that production could fall by 50% this season, with even more significant losses in some regions. “This is the leanest season I’ve ever seen,” said Hadi Qureishat, a local farmer. “Last year, five bags of olives yielded 50 to 55 kilograms of oil. This year, the same amount yielded only 20-22 kilograms.” He attributed the crop failure to drought and lack of rain. Despite the decline, some irrigated areas are showing resilience. According to Ammon News, production in irrigated olive growing regions is expected to double compared to last year, with 22 to 23 percent of Jordan’s olive orchards irrigated. Olive trees account for approximately 20 percent of Jordan’s agricultural land and about 75 percent of its fruit-growing area, making them the country’s most important crop. But due to ...