Going through a long period of rainlessness and drought from the spring of 2024 until today, in many parts of the country the deficit of the annual total precipitation exceeds 40-50% compared to the average value of the period 1991-2020, while in the region of Achaia , the average amount of rain in October was 1 mm, when the average for the month is 96 mm.

This situation has caused damage to agricultural crops, with olive production on the verge of huge losses this year.

As pelop.gr writes, the Directorates of Agricultural Economy of Western Greece, in collaboration with geotechnicians, have carried out repeated autopsies in the olive-producing areas and found the serious water shortage problem that has caused intense water stress in thousands of olive trees, especially in non-irrigated areas. This phenomenon is manifested by the shrinking of the olive fruit, fruit drop and extensive drying of the vegetative parts.

The damage from the drought to date is both quantitative and qualitative:

Quantitative Damages:

  • Achaia: With about 3,000,000 olive trees, the full potential production was 12,000 tons of virgin or extra virgin olive oil. Production is expected to be around 8,000 tonnes, i.e. a reduction of at least 33%.
  • Etoloakarnania: With about 6,200,000 olive trees, the full potential production was 25,000 tons of virgin or extra virgin olive oil. Production is expected to be around 16,000 tonnes, i.e. a reduction of at least 36%.
  • Elia: With about 11,000,000 olive trees, the full potential production was 30,000 tons of virgin or extra virgin olive oil. Production of around 20,000 tonnes is expected, i.e. a reduction of at least 33%.

In total, a loss of over 23,000 tons of olive oil (35%) is expected for the year 2024.