ELZUBI to ALRAI: Climatic fluctuations are severely impacting olive production this year.

This season, olive growers are facing a combination of harsh climatic factors that are undermining both productivity and quality. Rainfall variability, recurrent drought waves, late frost, heat waves, wind and dust storms, as well as climate-related pests and diseases are converging to create significant challenges. Together, these pressures are reducing yields, weakening oil quality, and driving up production costs for farmers.

The sector’s heavy reliance on rainfed agriculture—covering nearly 70 to 75 percent of cultivated areas—makes olive trees particularly vulnerable to drought. When rainfall is insufficient, trees shed their fruit prematurely, leading to sharp declines in productivity. Late frost during the flowering season in March and April further compounds the problem. By damaging blossoms and reducing fruit set, this recurring phenomenon has already caused major losses this year.