October the 31st, 2023 – An enormous Croatian olive grove irrigation project worth 900,000 euros in total has now been successfully completed.
As Poslovni Dnevnik writes, the domestic enterprise Agrolaguna has now completed its strategic project of introducing irrigation on 106 hectares of olive groves at the Červar-Porat location. The project carried a total value of 902,000 euros. This is the largest single investment of this company in the last decade. The Croatian olive grove irrigation project covered approximately 50 percent of the total area under Agrolaguna’s olive groves and created significant prerequisites for the stability of olive production in a time of increasingly unstable weather conditions and unfavourable climatic influences.
330 kilometres of lateral network pipelines
In total, over 330 kilometres of lateral network pipes and 20 kilometres of distribution and main pipelines were installed as part of this large Croatian olive grove irrigation project. The system is controlled by 10 main units that are interconnected for automated operation via radionet signals without the need for a built-in cable network. One of the most technologically advanced solutions was chosen for the underground installation of pipelines drop by drop in order to completely avoid pipes on the surface of the plantations and enable the maintenance of the grassy substrate and mechanised harvesting. In addition to the introduction of irrigation, the project also enabled fertigation, with equipment for the optimal dosing of water-soluble nutrients through the irrigation system. This achieves the maximum utilisation and the saving of fertiliser as one of the main factors in the successful cultivation of intensive plantations.
In the implementation of this Croatian olive grove irrigation project, the know-how and equipment of the company Netafim from Israel, which is the world’s leading manufacturer of such equipment, were used. The execution itself was realised by the company Bioplan from Split, and local subcontractors were also engaged. In addition to irrigation, investments were also made in the planting of a young olive grove, namely 300 trees of native Istrian varieties, as well as the acquisition of special machinery for processing the olives and speeding up the whole harvesting process.
A 902,000 euro investment
“Agrolaguna quickly recognised the importance of irrigation in the initial phase of the project and partially participated in financing the project documentation of this large project. The total investment stood at 902,000 euros, and we applied for Submeasure 4.1. Operational investments were made in the purchase and installation of equipment for the irrigation of olive groves as well as mechanisation for processing the resulting olives. We expect a return of 60 percent of the invested funds”, revealed Nerina Zec, president of the Agrolaguna administration, who emphasised that this investment wouldn’t have been possible if Istria County hadn’t built the Mateši reservoir and all of the necessary infrastructure across the Bašarinka area, all the way to Červar-Porat.
“Olive growing is an extremely important segment of Agrolaguna’s business. The first plantations were planted in Červar-Porat back in the 1960s. Through systematic long-term investment, Agrolaguna now has 225 hectares of olive groves and is the proud owner of the Ol Istria brand. In terms of production itself, from the olive grove to the final product, all processes are controlled and carry the ZOI Istria label of origin. The annual production of extra virgin olive oil amounts to 150 to 200 tonnes of oil. We continuously introduce innovations in the oil production itself by expanding our range of single-variety oils. The production of olive oils with additives is also being prepared,” she added.
A concrete step when it comes to supporting agriculture
During the commissioning of the Croatian olive grove irrigation system, Loris Peršurić, the mayor of Poreč, said: “It’s often said that agriculture is the branch of the economy that needs the most support, because it’s extremely important for society as a whole. This project is a concrete step in that direction, as it will significantly improve agricultural production in our area and provide support to farmers. This project isn’t only an investment in our agriculture, but also an investment in the future of our community. Croatian olive grove irrigation will enable farmers to cope with the challenges of drought and changing climate conditions, thereby ensuring continuity of production. What’s particularly important is that this project isn’t only intended for large farms, as small farms will also have access to these resources. Our goal is to encourage further collaboration and inclusion, so that all farmers can benefit equally from these new opportunities. I’m sure that the results of the first such irrigation system in this part of Istria will be visible and measurable in the years to come.”
A strong foundation for Istria’s olive growing traditions
These investments laid a strong foundation for the development of olive growing across the Istrian peninsula. The joint work of the local community and Istrian olive growers creates an opportunity to strengthen Istria as the best olive growing region. It will also further promote the endless benefits of consuming extra virgin olive oil and its contribution to human health.
