New olive press opens in Al Jabal Al Akhdar to boost local production

A new olive press in Oman’s Al Jabal Al Akhdar is designed to turn a growing local harvest into higher-value products, with capacity to process 1.2 tonnes of olives per hour.

The facility, which cost about OMR40,000, opened under the supervision of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Water Resources. It will serve farmers in Al Jabal Al Akhdar and nearby wilayats, including Al Hamra, Nakhal and A’Rustaq, while helping improve the use of the crop and the quality of Omani olive oil.

The press’s chief executive, Yahya bin Nasser Al Riyami, said the project responded to the expansion of olive farming in the wilayat and the need for modern processing lines. The facility can process several varieties, including Picual, Claramunt, improved Nepali and Chemlali, while preserving the oil’s natural properties.

About 70 tonnes of olives are being processed this season, and around 500 farmers are expected to benefit. The press has also created about 15 seasonal jobs. Al Riyami said the opening represents the first phase of a broader plan covering production, packaging and marketing.

Olive cultivation in Al Jabal Al Akhdar includes an estimated 20,000 trees spread across 80 acres and owned by nearly 700 farmers. Annual fruit production is estimated at 600 tonnes, yielding about 90,000 litres of oil. Investment in the sector and related land-use projects has reached roughly OMR222,500 across 110 acres.

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The project was launched in response to the growth of olive farming in the wilayat and the need for modern processing lines to help farmers turn their harvest into high-quality products.