Drought has also affected olive trees.

In the Bandırma district of Balıkesir, the drought and lack of rainfall in 2024 caused a loss of yield and harvest for the local water olive variety.
With a history of 2,000 years and known for its health benefits against many diseases, the water olive trees need to be irrigated to be saved. To prevent the trees from being left to their own devices, seven olive producers came together to establish the Edincik Water Olive Protection and Revitalization Association and began working on efforts to protect this local olive variety.
It is stated that the water olive, which grows in the regions of Spain, Barcelona, the Basque region, and Edincik, contains many valuable vitamins and minerals. Hürriyet Çıralı, who has been producing olives in Edincik for 50 years, emphasized the health benefits of the water olive and pointed out that the irrigation problem must be solved. Producer Çıralı said: “In Turkey, we have not been able to convey the value of this olive. The tree has very valuable taste differences and is also very resilient. We cannot produce enough due to the lack of water. The oil from this olive is very different from the oil of other olives. Anyone who uses the oil from this olive will understand that it is different from the oils of other olives. This olive oil is used for dressing wounds, in skin care, and is classified as first-grade olive oil for heart diseases.”
Mustafa Sönmez, the president of the Edincik Water Olive Protection and Revitalization Association, noted that the water olive trees grown in Edincik are doomed to dry out due to the lack of water, stating that their goal is to increase productivity by connecting the olive trees with water. President Sönmez said: “These trees are called water olives. They have a history of about 2,000 years. However, due to the global climate crisis and drought experienced in our region, these trees are drying out. To prevent these trees from drying out and to irrigate them, we young friends came together to establish an association. The ultimate goal of the Edincik Water Olive Protection and Revitalization Association is to connect the idle, ownerless lands in our region with water, ensure the irrigation of these trees, increase productivity, and regain our former strength.”