Olive growing in Kilis

Though one of Turkey's smallest provinces, Kilis is among the few places to have completed the institutional side of olive growing:

• The GAP Organic Farming Clustering Programme was implemented with the governorate
• The Kilis Province Organic Olive Producers Union was founded
• An integrated olive oil production facility was brought into service
• Kilis olive oil received geographical indication registration

The province has around 20 olive oil processing lines. The Kilis Yağlık variety, named after the area, is noted for its high oil content.

Analysis of 49 soil samples from Kilis olive groves reveals a gap alongside the institutional success:

• 100% of samples are deficient in iron — not one came back sufficient
• 93.9% are low or very low in zinc
• 89.6% have organic matter below 2% (the ideal is 3%)
• On the other hand there is no salinity problem, pH is suitable and lime is not limiting

The reason is simple: olive growing is generally carried out without fertilisation. The tree is tough, so it does not die and goes on bearing — but it bears only what the soil allows.

Detailed analysis: Kilis: the structure is solved, the soil is not