Rabat 05/10/2017 (MAP) – Morocco’s olive production is forecast to reach a record high of 1.56 million tonnes in the 2017-2018 crop year, the ministry of agriculture, fisheries, rural development, water and forests said on Thursday.

The forecast represents an annual increase of 47.8 % compared to last year’s production, the source noted in a statement, adding that olive production increased in all the regions of the kingdom, ranging from a 19% rise in the Oriental region to a 135 % increase in Tangier-Tetouan-Al Hoceima region.

Olive production covered a total area of more than 1 million hectares and a productive area of 879,000 ha with an average yield of 1.8 T/ha, a 50% increase compared to the previous crop year (1.2 T/ha), the ministry said.

Nevertheless, the source noted, the final olive production still depends on rainfall in the next three months.