The olive season is in danger... warnings of losing half the crop and revealing the truth about imported oil and the prices of the season

Gaza - Ofoq News - The Palestinian Ministry of Agriculture warned of serious repercussions threatening the olive season for the year 2026, in light of the escalation of settler attacks and Israeli closures that prevent thousands of farmers from reaching their lands, amid fears of losing a large part of the crop and a decline in production to levels significantly lower than initial estimates, coinciding with a state of anticipation in the markets regarding olive oil prices and widespread talk about imported quantities entering the Palestinian market.

Engineer Ramez Eid, Director of the Oil and Olive Department at the Ministry of Agriculture, revealed that the initial estimates for the current season indicated the possibility of producing between 20 and 21 thousand tons of olive oil under normal conditions, but field developments and the continuing attacks on farmers and agricultural lands are now threatening these expectations, indicating that reaching a production of between 14 and 15 thousand tons may be considered a good result under the current circumstances, with the possibility of recording smaller quantities.

Eid's statements came during an interview on the program "Tala Sabah", presented by the journalist Adel Gharib, and broadcast on Radio 4, Ofoq News satellite channel, and the Ofoq News radio network. He addressed the reality of the olive season, the challenges facing farmers, and the repercussions of the Israeli attacks on production and prices, in addition to the truth about the news circulating regarding the import of olive oil from abroad.

An exceptional season... and the Palestinian farmer is paying a heavy price

Eid stressed that Palestinian farmers are facing an unprecedented stage of challenges, in light of the expansion of attacks targeting agricultural lands and olive trees from the north to the south of the West Bank, stressing that these attacks are no longer limited or isolated events, but rather have become a direct threat to the continuation of agricultural activity and the livelihoods of thousands of Palestinian families.

He explained that the current olive season comes in very complex circumstances, after farmers were hoping for a good or average season in terms of production, but the attacks and closures made the process of accessing the trees and reaping their fruits fraught with danger.

He pointed out that the Palestinian farmer is now paying a high price for his crops, not only through the financial costs and effort expended, but also as a result of the risks that he and his family members are exposed to while trying to access and preserve their lands.

Eid considered that targeting olive trees and farmers comes within a broader context of conflict over land, stressing that the steadfastness of farmers and their adherence to their lands represents one of the most prominent manifestations of Palestinian steadfastness, especially since the olive tree constitutes a basic, and sometimes sole, source of livelihood for many families.

From 21 thousand tons to less than 15 thousand... fears of a sharp decline in production

Regarding production expectations, the Director of the Oil and Olive Department explained that the Palestinian agricultural sector, especially olive cultivation, has been affected during the past five years by climate change, and the accompanying clear fluctuation in production rates.

He explained that olive trees in Palestine depend mainly on rainwater, which makes them highly vulnerable to climate change and declining rainfall. He pointed out that the past years have witnessed successive seasons of poor production, a condition he described as one of the rare cases that was recorded in the sector.

He added that initial estimates for the current season indicated production close to the general average, at 20 to 21 thousand tons of olive oil, if appropriate conditions were available and farmers were able to reach their lands.

However, according to Eid, the escalation of Israeli attacks has changed these facts significantly, in light of fears that farmers will not be able to harvest the fruits of between a third and a half of the areas planted with olives if the restrictions and attacks continue at the current level.

He pointed out that these developments may push production to decline significantly, pointing out that reaching 14 or 15 thousand tons will be a relatively positive result compared to the scale of the challenges, without ruling out that actual production will be less than that.

He stressed that these numbers do not represent the final outcome of the season, but rather preliminary estimates related to the development of field conditions and the ability of farmers to reach their lands during the harvesting period.

The northern West Bank is at the heart of the crisis... vast fields beyond the reach of their owners

Eid pointed out that the governorates of the northern West Bank face double challenges, given the concentration of the largest percentage of olive trees there, which makes any attacks or closures in these areas have a direct and major impact on the total Palestinian production.

He explained that there are large and extended fields that their owners cannot reach, as a result of settler attacks and Israeli military measures, which threatens to leave large quantities of olives on the trees without being picked.

Eid held the Israeli authorities and the Israeli army, along with the settlers, responsible for what the agricultural sector is exposed to, stressing that preventing farmers from reaching their lands and closing agricultural areas constitute an essential part of the crisis.

He considered that the widespread and organized spread of attacks indicates, from his point of view, the existence of an Israeli political decision at high levels, and not just individual practices, noting that the concentration of attacks in the northern West Bank is mainly linked to the high density of olive cultivation in those areas.

He warned that the continuation of these conditions not only threatens the current crop, but also reflects on the economic and social stability of families that depend on olive cultivation, and places the future of this vital sector facing increasing challenges.

The Ministry of Agriculture is moving... modern equipment to speed up harvesting and reduce risks

Speaking about the Ministry of Agriculture’s interventions to support farmers, Eid stressed that the Ministry, in cooperation with government institutions, civil society organizations and donors, directed its efforts during the current season to support olive farmers, despite the difficult financial and economic crisis and the limited capabilities available.

He explained that the interventions included organizing collective harvesting campaigns, popularly known as “Fazaa,” in various areas of the West Bank, with the aim of helping farmers, especially in lands near seam zones and areas facing security risks.

Efforts also included providing and distributing modern equipment for picking olives, most notably mechanical picking machines that help complete the work within shorter periods of time.

Eid revealed that using this equipment can increase the farmer’s harvesting ability four or five times compared to traditional methods, allowing him to collect larger quantities of fruits during one day.

He pointed out that the importance of this equipment is not limited to increasing productivity and reducing effort, but also extends to reducing the time that farmers are forced to spend in areas exposed to attacks, which contributes to reducing the risks they face during the harvest season.

He stressed that the Ministry seeks to employ the available capabilities in the best possible way, while giving priority to the farmers most affected by attacks and the difficulty of accessing land.

Olive oil prices have not stabilized... and there is a clear disparity between the north and the south

Regarding olive oil prices for the current season, Eid explained that it is still too early to talk about a fixed or final price, given that the season is at its beginning, and that the quantities of oil offered in the markets have not yet reached levels that allow a clear picture of the movement of supply and demand to be formed.

He pointed out that there is a large discrepancy in prices between the northern, central and southern governorates of the West Bank, a phenomenon that is repeated during the olive seasons, but it appears more evident this year in light of the challenges facing production.

He indicated that some areas of the southern West Bank are witnessing relatively high prices as a result of the small quantities supplied in the markets, while supply and demand conditions differ in the northern governorates.

He stressed that prices are primarily subject to market movement, the size of available quantities, and consumer needs, pointing out that the expected decline in production may lead to higher prices compared to previous years.

However, he stressed that it is not possible to be certain about the final price level at this stage, in light of the continuing harvesting operations and the lack of clarity about the actual size of the crop that farmers will be able to collect.

The truth about Turkish and Tunisian oil.. The Ministry of Agriculture denies importing and warns of unknown source

In a file that raised widespread questions among citizens, Eid resolved the position of the Ministry of Agriculture regarding the news circulating regarding the arrival of olive oil imported from Türkiye and Tunisia to the Palestinian markets during the current season.

He confirmed that the Palestinian government and the Ministry of Agriculture had not imported olive oil until the time of the interview, denying the existence of official imports of oil at this stage.

He warned against dealing with offers to sell olive oil that are promoted as newly imported without reliable information regarding its source, calling on consumers to be careful and not be drawn into unverified advertisements.

He pointed to the spread of promotional campaigns on social media platforms to sell oils for which there is no clear information about their source, warning of the possibility of consumers being exposed to fraud or purchasing adulterated or non-compliant oils.

He stressed that consumer protection is a priority no less important than protecting farms, stressing the need to ensure that safe and reliable olive oil reaches citizens' tables.

In this context, he called on citizens not to rely on undocumented commercial claims, and to be careful to know the source of the oil before purchasing it, especially in light of the spread of sales offers via the Internet and social media.

An invitation to buy oil directly from farmers and presses

The Director of the Oil and Olive Department called on citizens to buy olive oil directly from Palestinian farmers or from olive presses spread throughout villages and towns, as a way to enhance confidence in the source of the product and support farms at the same time.

He explained that direct purchase allows the consumer to know the source of the oil better, reduces the role of intermediaries and gives farmers an opportunity to market their production and obtain an appropriate return for their efforts.

He pointed out that Palestinian olive oil enjoys a distinguished position in terms of quality, pointing out that the tests conducted by the Ministry during the current season showed the quality of Palestinian oil in general.

He stressed that going to the press and buying from farmers carries a message of solidarity and support, especially in light of the difficult economic conditions and the losses incurred by the agricultural sector.

He also called on financially capable citizens to take into account the exceptional circumstances that farmers are going through when evaluating oil prices, pointing out that the cost of producing oil this year cannot be measured by material costs alone, but rather includes the effort, risks, and suffering that accompany the harvesting process.

He explained that farmers, despite all the challenges, do not often demand exaggerated prices, but rather seek to obtain fair compensation for their crops, enabling them to continue cultivating their lands and caring for their trees.

Palestinian olives...an economic crop and a symbol of steadfastness

Eid stressed that Palestinian olive oil does not merely represent an agricultural commodity subject to production, marketing, and price calculations, but rather is closely linked to the Palestinian land and identity, and embodies the historical relationship between the farmer and his land.

He explained that what farmers are going through during the current season reflects the magnitude of the challenges facing Palestinian agriculture, in light of the attacks, closures, climate changes, and the economic crisis.

He stressed that preserving the olive tree and continuing its cultivation constitute a shared responsibility that requires the solidarity of official and private institutions and consumers, to ensure the continuation of this sector, on which large numbers of Palestinian families depend.

He pointed out that supporting farmers is not limited to aid, equipment, and harvesting campaigns, but also includes supporting the national product and purchasing Palestinian olive oil, which contributes to enhancing the farmers’ ability to face difficult conditions and continue on their lands.

A season between the challenges of production and the risks of accessing the land

The statements of the Director of the Oil and Olive Department in the Ministry of Agriculture reveal a crisis that goes beyond the expected decline in production quantities, affecting the Palestinian farmer’s ability to access his land and reap the fruits of his trees, at a time when Israeli attacks intersect with climate change and economic conditions to put one of the most important Palestinian agricultural sectors before an extremely difficult test.

While the final estimates of the crop still depend on the developments that will be witnessed in the coming weeks, the size of the land that farmers will be able to access remains a decisive factor in determining the results of the season, in addition to the impact of the available quantities on oil prices in local markets.

In light of these data, attention is turning to the ability of official and private institutions to support farmers, and to the role of the Palestinian consumer in supporting the national product, amid warnings against trading oils of unknown origin or being led by unreliable commercial offers.

The biggest challenge in the current olive season remains not only the size of the fruits that the trees will produce, but also the ability of the landowners to reach and harvest them. Between fields that farmers are prevented from entering, and trees waiting for someone to pick their fruits, the Palestinian’s daily battle to preserve his land and his source of livelihood is embodied in a season in which every drop of oil has become the fruit of steadfastness before it is the result of production.