After pomegranates and grapes, it’s time now for olives from Oman

The Jebel Akhdar mountain region, a preferred place for farming in Oman, is getting ready for olive harvest, come August end.

The villages of Niyabat Al Jabal Al Akhdar will be taking the harvested olives to a modern pressing machine provided by the Ministry of Agricultural, Fisheries and Water Resources in the Saih Qatana area, also in Jabal Al Akhdar, to produce the first batch of olive oil for the season.

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Olive oil harvest began in Oman in 2012, when around 15,000 olive trees were planted in the north eastern part of the Sultanate, which enjoys a climate similar to Mediterranean countries.

A wide variety of olive species have reportedly been produced in this mountainous region.

According to figures from Oman’s Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Water Resources, 60 tons of olives were harvested in the country between August and December 2019 from which 8,028 litres of olive oil were extracted.

The fertile land of Jebel Akhdar is also home to pomegranate farming, which has been harvested since the last few months.

Wasim Al Hadi, who own farms in the region said no one believed olive could be grown in Oman’s harsh conditions.

“But the persistent efforts of the farmers with the encouragement of the Ministry, who also assisted the farmers with land and resources, yielded results. In the initial stage, around 4,500 olive trees from the finest olive varieties were handed over to more than 500 farmers for cultivation; 410 litres of oil were extracted that was distributed to the farmers in the region.”

Today Oman’s olive oil is marketed in the country amidst good demand. With improved techniques in agriculture, consistent R&D in farming and the Ministry’s readiness in assisting the farmers, the cash crop can reap rich dividends, said Wasim.