Tunis: The annual average olive oil production at the Chal agricultural complex in Sfax governorate has dropped to less than 150 kg per hectare over the past five years, said Director General of the Office of State Lands (OTD) Tarek Chaouch on Saturday. Speaking at the regular press conference of the Ministry of Agriculture, Water Resources, and Fisheries, Chaouch provided an overview of the ministry's strategy to boost the olive oil sector at the Chal agricultural complex. He noted that the average olive oil production from 2010 to 2019 reached 450 kg per hectare, compared to 695 kg per hectare during the 1990s. The olive oil sector in Chal is plagued by several issues, including the hardening of approximately 6% of the olive trees, the ageing of 73% of the trees which are over 90 years old, most surpassing 100 years, and the impact of climate change such as reduced rainfall (76 mm across all farms this season) and rising temperatures, alongside alternating weather patterns. Chaouch indicated that the mi nistry has taken immediate measures to equip 44 hectares with localised irrigation systems, with an additional 78 hectares currently being equipped. The ministry is also accelerating the process of removing dry trunks to protect the forest from diseases. The complex has begun the irrigation process, utilising 12 tractors and tanks to irrigate approximately 3,000 olive trees per month. The ministry has also irrigated 820 hectares of productive plantations to ensure a stable annual production level. Deep wells are being drilled and equipped with photovoltaic panels, alongside the installation of localised irrigation systems for 820 hectares. The Chal agricultural complex in Sfax is the second-largest olive forest globally, covering an area of 18,724.5 hectares. It houses approximately 350,000 olive trees and employs around 435 permanent staff and workers, along with 385 seasonal workers. The average production of the most significant activities over the past five years has been about 3,500 tonnes of olive o il, 1.1 million litres of milk, 6.5 million eggs, and 3,000 tonnes of concentrated fodder. Source: Agence Tunis Afrique Presse