ISLAMABAD, Jul 26: The government has launched a project to encourage olive cultivation in potential areas spreading over thousands of hectares.

Under the pilot project, grafting of wild olive trees will be undertaken in different areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, erstwhile FATA, Balochistan, Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Potohar Region, said National Project Director of Olive Cultivation Dr Ahmad Tariq, adding that the grafting will be  done initially on 0.5 million wild olive trees.

He said under the project, essential training will be provided to farmers in targeted areas to enhance their income. The project will help reduce reliance on costly imported edible oil besides promoting indigenous output of oil seeds in the country.

So far, olive cultivation has been completed over 40,000 hectares in the country and it is gaining momentum due to increases in domestic demand as well export scope. Promotion of olive oil will also help address health hazards by ensuring the supply of quality edible oil for domestic consumption, Dr Tariq said.

The government in collaboration with the Italian government has also initiated ‘Olive Culture Project’ to improve regulatory framework, quality of locally produced products to encourage its output as well as exports. He said that under the project, Italian experts will provide special training to promote olive cultivation, besides oil extraction fulfilling the international standards and quality, adding that by meeting these standards, locally produced olive oil will get international recognition and enhance its exports.

Dr Tariq said that work on olive value chain and value addition is also gaining momentum in the country and different projects have already been completed with public-private partnership to enhance income of local farmers.

Credits: INP-WealthPk