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As Lebanon tries to recover from the damage caused by recent warfare, local olive farmers in the south have returned to their fields following the US-brokered ceasefire between Hezbollah and Israel.
Grappling with significant losses that threaten not just their livelihoods but also the very fabric of their communities, farmers returning from displacement to their wrecked homes and fields say the harvesting season, traditionally a time of hope, has been painful.
Local farmer Alaa Zinati has been working day and night on his field since he returned to his hometown of Houmine al-Fawqa, in Al-Nabatieyeh, after the ceasefire. “I’ve lost hope for the crop [this year], but upon arriving back in Houmine, we immediately began working in the olive fields,” he said. They had to leave everything behind on September 23, when the violence spiked at the borders and beyond.
This year's olive season, which typically following the first rain, has been postponed, with many farmers unable to reach their plantations. With the trees lacking the care they needed, their yield was massively impacted.
Alaa reported considerable losses due to the war, noting, “When we returned, we found that much of the crop had fallen, resulting in the loss of about half of our expected yield. We had anticipated producing around 30 cans of olive oil and dozens of kilograms of olives, which equates to losses exceeding $2,000. However, we are thankful to have salvaged what we could.”
Olives are Lebanon’s main cash crop, and the country is long known for the production of high-quality olive olive, which is a lifeline for countless households growing the crop, or working on the fields.
The tree, which has been cultivated in Lebanon for over 6,000 years, is an integral part of the Lebanese heritage. According to the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization, only a month into the war began on 7 October 2023, olive trees were reported as lost because of Israeli bombing.
Alaa is grateful that his land wasn’t completely destroyed and says his family is still able to survive on their salaries and savings to meet their needs, while continuing to care for the land and address some of the damages, with the hope of a better season ahead.
To reduce costs and become more self-sufficient, the family plans to do the pruning and cultivation themselves, without hiring extra help. They also intend to use olive oil sparingly at home andsell what they can of the crop.
He concluded with a hopeful yet determined message: “This land will endure, the south will endure, and we will endure, while they will eventually fade away,” referring to his country’s Israeli neighbours.
Abeer, Alaa's younger sister, works alongside him on the field, confirming their persistence to proceed with the harvest season as much as the crop and the security situation would allow them.
"This season is vital for us,” she explained. “It not only provides financial support but also holds deep sentimental value. We cannot afford to lose or abandon our land. Yes, picking olives is hard work, but it brings a unique joy. The scent of the earth and the bittersweet return after such a long absence are feelings that are hard to put into words."
Desperation among farmers
Not all farmers were as lucky as the Zinatis. The 14-month conflict has cost Ibrahim Al-Hajj nearly all of his property, including his olive trees.
"I lost my land and my home; my loss is irreplaceable," he told . He recounts returning to his village of Houmine after the ceasefire to find some of his olive trees completely torched down. The surviving trees were in a poor state and have lost their yield.
According to initial estimates, he says his agricultural losses amount to 90 percent of his annual income, which translates to a financial impact of about $6,000. To restore his land, he’d need to replace the burned down trees, and fix irrigation systems and other essential infrastructure damaged by the violence.
The fifty-year-old farmer, like many others, has started petitioning local authorities for compensation, but he says support has been scarce so far.He is utilising the little savings he has to survive with his family, and repair his damaged home, while anxiously awaiting what the future holds.
“No one knows what’s going to happen, but things are still very volatile. Another escalation would bring further losses which we can’t cope with right now,” he said.
The damage sustained by the olive farming community is monumental, with over 13 million square meters of trees reportedly affected by Israeli bombing.
As farmers rally around their common goal of recovery, they are counting on creative problem-solving and community support to bridge the gap left by traditional government aid that currently seems non-existent.
Olive presses in the region are similarly feeling the heat.
Hussein Hassoun, who runs a press in Kfarhata, reported an astonishing 70% decline in production this season, producing only 500 tins compared to last year's 3,000.
“The ongoing conflict has paralysed our sector,” Hassoun explained, citing displacement and destruction of crops as the main culprits.
Hassoun, commonly known as Abu Firas in the olive farm community, expressed his frustration regarding the current circumstances, stating, “We must rely on God and ourselves, as no one seems to care about our plight. Neither government officials, nor local associations, nor agricultural cooperatives have shown any concern for our situation, nor have they reached out to support the farmers and press owners who have suffered losses.”
Bilal Ghazeye is a Lebanese journalist, working as a news editor and reporter at Lebanos News, and a communication officer at LOGI, a non-governmental organisation that promotes transparency and accountability in the Lebanese oilandgassector
This article is published in collaboration with
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