Study of some indicators of olive production for a selected sample of farmers in the city of Tarhuna

Abstract

The olive tree is one of the most widespread trees in Libya, and this spread is closely related to the economic importance. The research problem lies in the weakness of some indicators of olive production, such as the weak expansion of olive tree cultivation and the low production and productivity, this study dealt with the production and productivity of olives. Where the study dealt with the city of Tarhuna as case study, Through the study, it was found that it is one of the largest Libyan cities in terms of areas planted with olive trees, where the number of trees in it reached about 2.3 million, the study aimed to analyse a set of data on the production of olives and olive oil in the city of Tarhuna and to review the production, prices and cultivated areas for the results of a random sample of olive farms in the study area. The study found that the average cultivated area in Tarhuna city is estimated at about 20.4 hectares, and the average number of trees for the study sample farmers is about 406 trees per farm, and 87% of the farmers depended on rain fed agriculture, and 10% of the study sample for fertilized with chemical pesticides and the rest with natural fertilizers. The study also concluded that 85% of the farms of the study sample depend on seasonal employment and the rest on permanent employment with a fixed wage. While average olive oil productivity was 350 liters for the farmer, and the average selling prices were 12.5 Libyan dinars per liter. Also, the average total cost of production was estimated at about 1777.45 Libyan dinars per one season for farms of the study sample. The study recommends working to provide production requirements to increase productivity. Also, paying attention to olive trees and agricultural operations before and after harvesting the olives. We must work to provide financial support by granting agricultural loans for the purpose of purchasing modern agricultural machinery, as well as for various agricultural operations and digging artesian wells.