Iraq has the potential to expend and improve the production of olive oil like to Middle Eastern countries.
The Iraqi Ministry of Agriculture recognized the possible for olive oil industry in Iraq and the government work with many organizations to establish new olive plantations.
For beginning the government and USAID added 21,000 olive tree in Ninawa and included three modern oil presses and bottling equipment and two irrigation well for the fields . the presses are capable of pressing 4.5 tons of oils per a day the plant will add more jobs opportunity for people live in Ninawa area .
Olive trees fields concentrated in northern Iraq in Ninawa province and many farmer been growing olive tree at that area more than 500 years ago because grower in that area been making healthy organic cold pressed olive oil.
One of the famous association that support olive industry in Iraq Al – Zaytoon Association which is communicated with to USAID – INMA is US non for profit organization ensure that agriculture investment are supportable and they help agriculture capacity development on farms and in private sector .
The olive oil its have been extracted over 5000 years ago using very common and the major countries of olive oil production is Spain and Italy and Greece all together produce more than 75 % of the world production .
There are many health benefits of using olive oil like is soft on the digestive system
And help prevent gallstones and soothe ulcers. good quality of olive oil contains valuable vitamins and nutrients and load with antioxidants which many people believe that protect the body from cancer
Why do you think the olive oil industry was not always a big industry in Iraq?