Olive Harvest in Kairouan Governorate
The olive harvest in the Kairouan governorate is estimated to be 248,000 tons of olives, which translates to 50,000 tons of oil. This represents a 20% increase compared to last year's harvest of 195,000 tons of olives and 40,000 tons of oil.
Measures to Ensure Quality Production
To guarantee the best conditions for harvesting, regional officials have taken several measures at the governorate's headquarters. These measures aim to ensure high-quality oil production while protecting the environment from pollution generated by olive processing.
- Agricultural technicians have raised awareness among farmers about the best harvesting methods to avoid damage to the olives.
- The use of crates for transporting olives instead of plastic bags has been encouraged.
Challenges Facing Olive Farmers
Some of the challenges that olive farmers face every year include:
- The management of margine, a hazardous byproduct of olive processing. The existence of storage basins for treatment through evaporation is crucial in addressing this issue.
- The scarcity and high cost of labor, which is a significant concern for farmers.
- The cost of transportation and processing.
- The problems of theft and looting, which highlight the need for effective security plans.
Olive Production in Kairouan Governorate
The Kairouan governorate has:
- 11,300,000 olive trees planted over an area of 186,000 hectares.
- Several varieties of olive trees, with 85% being of the Chamlali type, 10% Oueslati, and 5% Chetoui.
- Many olive trees are centuries-old, dating back to the Roman era. The most productive delegations are:
- Bouhajla
- El Ala
- Chebika
- Nasrallah
- El Hajeb
- Haffouz These areas are renowned for producing high-quality olive oil with a very low acidity level, not exceeding 0.3 degrees. As a result, there is a strong demand for this oil from consumers at the local, regional, and national levels.
