LEBANON (Enmaeya News) - November 17, 2025

Lebanese olive farmers are facing one of the worst seasons in decades, reporting catastrophic losses as drought, extreme heat, pest infestations, and the country’s prolonged economic collapse devastate production.

According to Xinhua, preliminary estimates indicate an 80% drop in nationwide output, the lowest levels in over 50 years, leaving both growers and olive presses struggling to survive.

Rural communities are bearing the brunt of the decline. Rising labor costs, shortages of fertilizers and pesticides, and fuel insecurity have forced many farmers to abandon their groves.

Olive press owners say they are operating at roughly half capacity, while experts warn that extreme temperatures and lack of irrigation have even affected the quality of the oil.

Officials cite climate change, prolonged drought, and damage from Israeli attacks as contributing factors, with some fields destroyed or rendered inaccessible. The crisis threatens not only livelihoods but also one of Lebanon’s most important agricultural traditions.

Farmers and cooperatives are now urging the government to launch a national rescue plan, calling for damage assessments, in-kind support, and the restoration of vital irrigation networks to protect the sector and revive rural communities dependent on olive production.