Adeem Niaz

The country's production of olive oil is likely to fall by 30% as a result of the adverse effects of climate change, Olive Cultivation Programme's National Project Director Dr Hassan Tariq said.

Speaking to the media, he said that this season's production of olive oil is projected to total 70 million metric tonnes, down from the previous season's 100 tonnes. He pointed out that this season, 100 tonnes of olive fruit, as compared to 120 metric tonnes last year, is expected to be produced for value-added items.

Dr Hassan said that a programme to teach the country's olive producers has been launched in partnership with the Italian government. This would encourage domestic oil production and lessen the need for expensive imports of this commodity.

In order to boost the income of farmers in the country's underdeveloped regions, he said that the government is also striving to encourage olive cultivation and has established a programme to transform wild olives into fruitful olive plants.

Local production of cooking oil increased by 8.1% during the first quarter of the current fiscal year, with 121,113 metric tonnes produced compared to 112,069 metric tonnes during the same time the previous year.

To fulfil domestic demand, more than 351,028 metric tonnes of vegetable ghee was also produced during the reviewed period, compared to 327,068 metric tonnes during the same time last year.

Credit : Independent News Pakistan-WealthPk