A new branch of the agro-industrial complex is developing in the Balkan velayat: olive cultivation and processing. Imamberdi Jepbarov, a member of the Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs of Turkmenistan, produces products under the ‘Endiga’ brand, according to IIC Turkmenistan.

On a 9-hectare plot in the Etrek etrap, 6 hectares have been allocated for olive plantations, where over 10,000 seedlings have been planted, with another 3 hectares occupied by orchards. The harvest takes place from late October to early November, with an expected yield of 15-20 kg of fruit per tree.

A specialised enterprise is responsible for processing, and the products are supplied to the domestic market and are available in shops and supermarkets throughout the country. Olive trees are well adapted to the local climate, are drought-resistant and produce fruits rich in vitamins, iron and calcium.