AMMAN, Nov. 19 (Xinhua) -- Standing in his 13-acre olive orchard in Madaba, central Jordan, Marwan Sleem saw this year's harvest come in far lighter than usual. His trees yielded only 27 tanks of olive oil, nearly half of what he collects in a normal season.

Similar reports are emerging nationwide. Jordan, home to some of the world's oldest olive trees dating back more than 5,400 years, is facing one of its sharpest production declines in recent years.

Approximately 92 percent of Jordan's total area belongs to an arid to semi-arid climate. Olive trees, known for being tough and drought-resistant, thrive in these conditions. In Jordan, many ancient Roman-era olive groves still stand across the country.

Yet this season, even those hardy, centuries-old trees have struggled.

Sleem said olive trees still need sufficient moisture for growth, and the production fall is due to the lack of rainwater. However, he cannot afford water tanks for irrigation and mostly relies on rainwater.

Lawrence Majali, spokesperson for the Ministry of Agriculture, said that, "Production is expected to decrease by an average of 30-40 percent due to poor rainfall and the impacts of climate change, including drought and high temperatures during the flowering and fruit-setting stages."

Environmental experts said Jordan's major olive-growing regions have undergone noticeable climatic changes. "Shorter rainy seasons, frequent droughts, and warmer winters are disrupting the natural cycle of olive trees," said Omar Shoshan, president of the Jordan Environment Union.

Shoshan added that poor autumn and winter precipitation weakens bud formation, while spring heatwaves damage blossoms, sharply limiting yields.

The impact has quickly reached farmers and the national market.

Prices have risen as national output drops to about 18,000 tons, down from the usual 23,000-24,000 tons. A 16-kg tank is now selling for about 130 Jordanian Dinars (about 183 U.S. dollars), compared with roughly 100 Jordanian Dinars last year.

However, the price increase isn't enough to offset the losses suffered by farmers. Mahmoud Omari, spokesperson for the Olive Oil Producers and Mill Owners Syndicate, noted that some farms that used to produce 20 tanks barely made four this year. "So even prices of 120 or 150 Jordanian Dinars per tank do not compensate farmers for their losses."

Meanwhile, many Jordanian households have a tradition of buying enough olive oil for the whole year all at once. The modest price increases are already straining budgets. "It is very expensive this year," said 64-year-old Karema Othman. "Some people can't even afford to buy. It took a lot from our budget."

Omari stressed that the sector needs long-term protection, not only because olive trees make up 72 percent of Jordan's fruit trees, but also because it serves low-income families, provides jobs and income, and is closely tied to local consumption and culture. "The olive season is part of our culture," he said.

For the past decade, Jordan had met its domestic demand of 23,000-24,000 tons annually while exporting about 5,000 tons. But this year, with supply falling below demand, exports were banned starting in September, and import channels are being considered to ease price pressure.

Beyond the current season, Jordan is also working to safeguard its rare and ancient olive varieties, which account for about 15-20 percent of the country's total olive-growing area. Research shows that indigenous strains, such as the Mahras olives of Ajloun, the oldest genetic olive varieties in the Mediterranean basin, is naturally resilient to drought and disease.

Experts believed the sector's future lies in combining traditional methods with climate-smart agricultural practices, including drip irrigation, rainwater harvesting, soil mulching, increasing organic matter, adopting drought-resistant varieties, and improving access to weather and agricultural data.

"Olives are part of who we are," Omari said. "But climate change means we need new tools. Supporting farmers is essential because without them, our heritage and this vital sector cannot survive." Enditem