For Hassan Omar, an olive farmer in the hilly Arqoub region of southern Lebanon, this year's harvest has been a disaster.

"I used to fill more than a hundred tins of oil each season," Omar said, standing among his nearly barren olive trees. "This year, I barely got 11."

Omar's situation reflects a broader crisis spreading across Lebanon's countryside, where olive growers are facing the worst harvest in more than 50 years. Preliminary figures from agricultural cooperatives and the Ministry of Agriculture show that the 2025 season has brought an estimated 80 percent drop in olive production.

Agricultural expert Imad Maalouf said the "sharp and unprecedented decline" was caused by several overlapping factors, including scarce rainfall, unusually high spring temperatures, pest infestations, and reduced tree care due to Lebanon's prolonged economic crisis.

"All these factors combined made the 2025 olive season the weakest in more than half a century," Maalouf said.

Farmer Jamal Daher said that, beyond the climate challenges, the country's economic collapse, which has continued since 2019, has crippled farmers' ability to maintain their groves.

"The economic crisis in the country stopped us from buying fertilizers or paying workers," Daher said. "We left many groves unharvested because the yield does not cover the costs."

The shortage of affordable fertilizers, pesticides, and even fuel for irrigation has forced many rural families to focus on daily living expenses rather than farming. Najib Khoury, a farmer from Kawkaba, said that high labor costs, which average around 25 U.S. dollars per worker each day, often exceed the value of the harvest. As a result, many farmers have to abandon their crops.

The sharp drop in olive production has also affected related industries. Olive presses across Lebanon are now operating at roughly half of their normal capacity.

At his olive press in Marjayoun, another town in southern Lebanon, Rajeh Hamdan said they once processed between 30 and 40 tonnes of olives each day, but now they barely reach 15. He added that the oil itself has suffered, explaining that its flavor and density have changed because of the heat and drought.

According to Hamdan, the market imbalance is devastating. "Everyone is losing," he said. "The farmer, the press owner, the consumer, and the trader are all affected."

Olive cultivation remains a vital sector of Lebanon's economy, supporting more than 100,000 farmers and covering about 590 square kilometers, or roughly 5.6 percent of the country's total area. In normal years, Lebanon produces about 120,000 tonnes of olives and 30,000 tonnes of olive oil.

Agriculture Minister Nizar Hani told Xinhua that preliminary figures for this year show only between 14,000 and 17,000 tins of oil, each containing 16 liters, the lowest level ever recorded.

Beyond its economic value, olive oil holds deep cultural significance in Lebanon. It symbolizes tradition, endurance, and self-sufficiency in many villages. Now, those traditions are under strain as production falls and prices continue to rise.

Hani also cited climate change and drought as the main causes of the collapse. He added that Israeli attacks have "destroyed or burned dozens of olive fields, uprooted hundreds of trees, and prevented farmers from reaching their lands."

Farmers and cooperatives have urged authorities to implement a national rescue plan that includes damage assessment, in-kind aid, and the rehabilitation of irrigation networks to help revive the struggling sector.