Crete tourist guide

Olives are waiting for rain

2024-11-07 21:19:09

If the weather forecasts are correct, the long-awaited rainfall will finally reach Crete at the beginning of next week. The prolonged drought is causing not only a problem with the availability of drinking water. The owners of olive groves, especially those located in the east of Crete and in the higher regions of the island, are now waiting for a solid rain. Olive cultivation in Crete is one of the main pillars of the local economy and employment on the island. The Association of Municipalities Growing Olives in Crete believes that the current situation is heading towards an irreversible collapse.

In some areas there has been virtually no rain for months, and this year's summer, which was exceptionally hot, has made the situation even worse. The lack of sufficient water has caused the trees in numerous olive groves to turn yellow, and the olives that are still on the branches are already withered. In these conditions, in many places there is no question of harvesting, which under normal conditions should be starting now. Where possible, trees are watered intensively, which, however, greatly increases production costs and additionally deepens the problem of access to drinking water, especially in the east of the island. According to data from the Crete Development Organisation, the Aposelemis reservoir, which can hold 22,500,000 m3 of water, is currently only 14% full, and the small Agios Georgios reservoir is 35%.

However, olive groves located in the higher regions of Crete and those cultivated organically are generally not additionally irrigated. Therefore, solid rainfall is currently the only way to save at least some of the fruit.

The main cause of this year's damage is the prolonged heatwaves that occurred in the summer and the almost complete lack of rainfall in the spring and autumn, the key periods for olive growing. However, while last year the trees did not bear fruit due to the high temperatures in the spring, this year the olives are on the trees to the point of almost drying out.

After last year's historic low in olive oil production in Crete, which amounted to 52,000 tons, this year is unfortunately expected to be even lower. Another year with losses of around 40% compared to the average means that very high olive oil prices will continue. Let's hope that the weather forecasts will prove correct and the desired rains will appear. Otherwise, disaster awaits many olive oil producers in Crete.

Gosia,  2024-11-07 21:19:09

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