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The Directorate of Agricultural Services in Tebessa province has announced ambitious forecasts for the current olive harvest season, with total production expected to reach 1.2 million quintals. These estimates come amid positive indicators reflecting a bountiful crop and high quality for what is locally termed 'green gold,' strengthening the province's position as an emerging hub in this strategic agricultural sector.
According to the Head of Agricultural Production and Technical Support at the Directorate, the harvest season, which commenced in mid-October and will run through the end of the year, is proceeding under favorable conditions. Olive cultivation in the Tebessa and Bir el Ater regions covers a total area of 9,734 hectares, with approximately 6,800 hectares currently productive. Most of the harvest is slated for milling at the province's facilities to produce an estimated 1.8 million liters of premium olive oil, alongside 16,059 quintals of table olives.
The olive sector in Tebessa has seen steady growth alongside potato cultivation, with planted areas expanding significantly since 2000 to exceed 11,000 hectares today. The Directorate is focusing efforts on training producers through awareness days on modern agricultural techniques and tree care to boost both quantity and quality. More than 70% of the productive area, which counts over 1.6 million fruit-bearing trees, is concentrated in the municipalities of Bir el Ater, Safsaf el Ouesra, and Oum Ali.
As part of the processing development strategy, the province currently hosts six modern olive mills equipped with the latest technology. Local authorities are encouraging investors to establish additional extraction units utilizing advanced technology to phase out traditional methods, facilitating local processing for farmers. Investors in the sector aim to expand the marketing of Algerian olive oil beyond domestic markets to international exports, leveraging the product's high competitiveness in terms of flavor and quality.
Source: Annasronline.com