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The cultivation of olive trees is quite developed in Potami. This fact is proved by the presence of olive groves which cover a significant part of the cultivated land, as well as by the number of olive trees per person. It is characteristically mentioned that more than 10000 olive trees are cultivated in the community. 

Originally, olive cultivators take care of the olive grove ground. Taking care of the olive grove ground includes the extermination of weeds and its enrichment with nutritious ingredients. Also important for the olive cultivators is the pruning of the olive trees at the beginning of spring or during the harvest period. By pruning, cultivators not only aim to maintain but also to increase productivity. Similar to pruning, proper irrigation affects the productivity of the olive trees. In particular, cultivators, spring excluded, avoid the frequent irrigation of the olive groves.     

Knowledge about how to take care of the ground, about pruning, irrigation and about the method of multiplying the olive trees is spread from generation to generation. Cultivators use the method of grafting, meaning the attachment of a wild olive tree branch to another variety of the same tree, to multiply their olive trees. The fructification of the olive trees is not immediate since the olive tree begins to produce olives three years after it has been planted. 

The harvest of the olives takes place around the end of October until the end of February. One way to harvest the olives which is used in Potami, as well as in many other villages of Cyprus, is “louvisma”. This method includes the caning of the tree with a wooden stick which results in the olives falling on the ground so that the villagers can collect them.  Nowadays, modern technology is used for harvesting the olives, something which on the one hand makes the harvest easier and on the other hand helps collecting more productive olives.

Undoubtedly, olive cultivation will continue to flourish in Potami due to the knowledge and constant attention paid by the residents, as well as due to favourable climate conditions and the morphology of the ground. 

Sources:
Ionas Ioannis, Traditional Cyprus Professions, Lefkosia, 2001, pp.487-497
Great Cyprus Encyclopaedia, vol.2 and 5

 

 

 
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Community Council of Potami
Agiou Georgiou 61
2780 Potami
Community Council Office Telephone: 22852448
President Telephone: 99651914
FAX: 22852031
E-mail: k.s.potami@
cytanet.com.cy

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