Iran is a major olive producer in the world, ranking 11 out of a total of 43 olive producers across the world, Jean-Louis Barjol, the executive director of International Olive Council (IOC) said on Tuesday, IRNA reported. “Eleven million hectares of land are now used for olive cultivation worldwide. 80 percent of olive farms are still run by traditionally methods,” he said, noting that there has been a downward trend in olive production and consumption across the world. He added that Spain and Italy are the main producers and exporters of olive and olive oil in the world, with Spain alone producing more than 50% of the world’s olive. He further said that because of using traditional methods of farming, production costs in Iran are higher than many other countries. Leading olive growing regions in Iran include Fars, Kerman, Hormuzgan, Sistan-Baluchestan, Qazvin, Gilan, Golestan and Zanjan provinces. Arom and Gilvan gardens in Zanjan province have the highest acreage under olive cultivation while the lowest is Roudbar in Gilan province.
