The olive harvest season in the Nabeul Governorate is expected to begin tomorrow, Sunday, November 1, 2026, with an estimated production of around 86,600 tonnes of oil olives, compared with 92,040 tonnes in the previous season, a drop of 6%, according to Salim Zouari, General Engineer at the Tunisian Union of Agriculture and Fisheries (UTAP), in a statement to the Tunis Afrique Presse (TAP) agency.
According to the same source, the olive groves cover a total area of 39,535 hectares in the Nabeul Governorate, of which 38,000 hectares are devoted to the production of oil olives. The remainder is reserved for table olives, whose harvest is expected to reach about 6,000 tonnes, a volume similar to that recorded during the previous season.
Salim Zouari also noted that the olive groves located in agricultural holdings between Hammamet and Essomâa, in the Béni Khiar delegation, stand out for the production of a particular variety, known as the “marbled olive”, reputed for its sweet flavor.
Furthermore, a working session was held last Wednesday at the Nabeul Governorate headquarters to review preparations for the new olive season. This meeting notably allowed for reviewing the main indicators of the sector, production forecasts, as well as certain difficulties related to the basins for collecting the margines and the shortage of labor.
On this occasion, emphasis was placed on the role of agricultural extension cells in monitoring and controlling the olive groves, particularly following the spread of olive tuberculosis, favored by climatic fluctuations. The importance of adhering to preventive measures during harvesting and pruning operations was also stressed.
Finally, the participants agreed to organize an evaluation working session immediately after the current season ends, in order to develop a roadmap concerning the situation of the oil mills and the management of the margines.
