In the past, olive trees were grown in dryland areas.
Farmers used to plan their olive oil production for two years, as there was not always enough rainfall each year. Over time, they began to irrigate olive trees to increase production, converting them into irrigated trees. These trees used to receive water, but this year it has been very scarce.
That is why the drought is a major problem for this year's olive oil harvest. This has been happening for a couple of years now. The supply of olive oil is decreasing, while demand remains the same or even increases, leading to higher prices.
Additionally, unlike other countries, in Spain, the price of oil tends to be lower.
Farmers from all over Catalonia have also denounced the government's management of the drought. They have organized tractor protests that have even reached the country's capital, demanding the lack of measures to use water and alleviate the situation.
Cooperatives in the region hope to be able to save part of the harvest and meet the demands of their members and customers. Even though the amount of the harvest may be lower, the quality of the oil will remain high, preserving the tradition in the Camp de Tarragona.
