Jordan witnessed a sharp decline in olive production this year, a drop that can be explained by a combination of two main factors. The first is the traditional phenomenon of alternate bearing (known locally as ma‘awma), which farmers are well aware of, where olive trees naturally alternate between high-yield and low-yield years.

The second factor is climate change, which this year took on a more complex form. It was not limited to reduced rainfall or rain falling outside its usual seasons, but also included a shift in rainfall patterns to different geographical areas. For example, floods and water streams followed different courses than in previous years. This spatial displacement also had its impact, directly reflected in the decline of olive production.