Olive growing in Kilis

Güneydoğu Anadolu region · 64.113 t of olives and 12.570 t of olive oil in 2024-25.

4.692.000bearing trees

64.113 tolives

12.570 tolive oil

13.7 kgper tree

In the 2024-25 season Kilis harvested 64.113 tonnes of olives from 4.692.000 bearing trees — an average of 13.7 kg per tree. Of that crop 1.211 t went to the table and 62.902 t to pressing, yielding 12.570 tonnes of olive oil.

Where it stands

2 of 9 in the Güneydoğu Anadolu region — 31.0% of the region's crop, 1.8% of Turkey's
13.7 kg per tree — 2.7 kg above the regional average of 11.0 kg
2% of the crop goes to the table (regional average 5%) — oil-oriented

A small province with organised olive growing

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.

What the soil says: 100% iron deficiency

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

2024-25 season

Bearing trees	4.692.000
Olives	64.113 t
To the table	1.211 t (%2)
For oil	62.902 t
Olive oil	12.570 t
Per tree	13.7 kg

Only the current season is published for this province; the eleven-year series exists for İzmir, Aydın, Manisa, Muğla, Bursa and Çanakkale.

Varieties of the Güneydoğu Anadolu region

Varieties are recorded by region in the source, not by province.