Speaking exclusively to Libya Herald, the Director General of Libya’s National Programme for Small and Medium Enterprises, Abdel Nasser Abuzaqia, said that a Libyan olive oil industry can help diversify the economy and earn hard currency.
Abuzagia was speaking at Libya’s First Olive Oil Competition ceremony on Tuesday held in Tripoli also attended by (Abuzagia’s boss) the Minister of Economy and Trade, Mohamed Hwej under the slogan ‘‘Our oil is good and a blessing’’.
Continuing, Abuzagia added that the establishment of this competition for the best olive oil in Libya comes to support entrepreneurs and project owners, and to urge care for the olive tree, whose oil production must have a place in supporting the economy and national income by exporting abroad.
National plan to support olive growers
He referred to the development of a national plan in cooperation with the Ministry of Economy and the Ministry of Agriculture with the Ministry of Industry to support farmers and agricultural projects in the field of interest in the olive tree. The plan also supports the development of olive presses with the establishment of various industries on what is extracted from the olive fruit. In addition, the plan also requests the transfer of technologies and knowledge from a developed country in this important industry, which forms part of the national income tributaries.
20 million olive trees targeted
Abuzagia noted that the approximate local statistics confirm that there are more than 8 million trees in Libya. He said the Ministry of Economy in cooperation with the Ministry of Agriculture is aiming to reach the cultivation of more than 20 million olive trees of various varieties that are appropriate to the Libyan climate with higher production in a less supportive time. to the national economy.
Specialist committee chose winners
Regarding the criteria for evaluating the participants in the competition, Abuzagia stressed the setting of specific controls, conditions and criteria for evaluating the quality of common olive oil. This came through a committee composed of specialists in the field of examining, testing and tasting olive oil. The best samples from tens of samples were chosen from participants from different Libyan cities.
It is noteworthy that the top ten participants in the award were honoured with cash prizes, where the first-place holder received LD 10,000, the second place received LD 7,500, the third received LD 5000. Those ranked from fourth to tenth received LD 1,000 dinars each.
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