In the context of the local market's rush to obtain imported oil bottles, the scene appeared as an alarm bell urging us to rethink our relationship with our land and our strategic crops, foremost among them the blessed olive tree; the olive tree is not just a seasonal agricultural crop, but a pillar of food security and an economic lever capable of transforming challenges into opportunities. Jordan, with its historical experience in olive cultivation and climate suitability in many of its areas, is able to move from a state of anxiety when there is a shortage of supply to the position of an exporting country, if legislative will is combined with developmental vision. Issuing legislation that mandates the cultivation of un farmed lands with olive trees, coupled with a government support package that includes providing good seedlings and one-time fertilizer, and securing water during the first four or five years until the roots are strong and the tree is firmly established in the soil, could launch a real agricultural renaissance; the olive tree is known for its ability to relatively withstand drought once it is settled, and it is a perennial tree that increases its yield over time if it receives proper care, pruning, and ongoing renewal. What happened from the rush towards imported oil, including oil coming from Tunisia, should be read as a painful lesson affirming that dependence on external sources for a basic commodity exposes us to price fluctuations and supply shortages, while investing in olives means keeping hard currency within the nation, and even attracting it through export. Furthermore, encouraging olive cultivation opens wide doors for job opportunities in agriculture, pressing, packaging, and marketing, and pushes towards the establishment of modern nurseries and scientific research centers focused on improving varieties, and enhancing productivity and quality, which enhances the competitiveness of the Jordanian product in global markets. Caring for olives is not merely an agricultural option, but a comprehensive national project for food security and sustainable development, based on encouraging farmers, modernizing irrigation methods, ensuring quality, and building a culture that preserves this blessed tree and does not leave it uncared for. Only then can Jordan transform the olive tree from a symbol of blessings and resilience into an economic success story, and become a country that exports oil and olives, not one waiting for shipments coming from beyond its borders.
