Sweida-Sana
Amidst estimates of producing more than 9 thousand tons of olives and more than 1500 tons of oil, Sweida farmers continue to harvest the crop in order to secure their supplies of fruits and oil for those who have trees in home gardens or to generate income for the owners of orchards and agricultural projects.
According to farmer Nasr Nasr, the owner of an agricultural project on an area of about 20 dunums containing 350 trees, estimates of his oil production range between 70 and 80 plates, which are relatively lower than last year, indicating that the season is generally acceptable, but there is an increase in afternoon wages, which amount to 65 pounds per kilogram, and a lack of labor. For every kilogram of olives she gets, an amount ranges between 100 and 110 lira.
The reality of the season, as considered by farmer Ziad Sarayuddin, is acceptable, pointing out that every farmer provides his orchard with what he needs in addition to providing seasonal job opportunities for harvesting with olives classified for age and table, explaining that the size of black table olives is good for the current year.
During his bringing about 1.5 tons of olive fruits to squeeze them in one of the presses, the farmer Burhan al-Samman from the town of Atil expressed his satisfaction with the progress of work in the mill and the work of machines, indicating that the resulting oil percentage varies from one farmer to another according to his dealings with the land and the services he provides for his orchard, pointing out that the season is good. But it is relatively lower than last season, considering that the price of olive press is acceptable compared to the high prices of fuel.
The farmer, Wissam Braik from the village of Al-Majdal, stated that this season every 100 or 110 kg of olives produces a can of oil, indicating that he will not sell a single plate for less than 110 thousand pounds as he bears the high costs of production requirements and works the whole season to secure a source of income for his family in these difficult circumstances.
According to the head of the fruitful trees department specialized in the As-Suwayda Agriculture Directorate, Engineer Khaldoun Munther, production is relatively lower than last season and estimates of olive fruit production amount to 9,047 tons. It is expected to produce 1,550 tons of oil, noting that insect injuries in the current season are few due to the high temperatures in The summer season will positively affect the quality of the olives and the resulting oil.
According to Munther, the total area planted with olive trees in the governorate amounts to about 10 thousand hectares.
As-Suwayda governorate produced about 11,085 tons of olives last season.
Long lifespan
