Dr Mohammad Israr, Secretary of Agriculture and Livestock, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, has said that over 100,000 acres of land are well suited for the cultivation of saffron, which may bring in an enormous Rs870 billion annually for the province. He was speaking during a meeting held at the Saudi Embassy. The commercial attaché and other Saudi Embassy officials were informed by the agricultural specialists with investment potential in saffron, olive, and berry honey farming during the meeting.

Dr Israr said that the provincial administration has also approved a particular planning in light of the good outcomes of the province's experimental saffron cultivation two years ago. He stated that Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provided strong investment opportunities for investors from Saudi Arabia to import less expensive saffron from the province.

Regarding the province's potential for producing olive oil, he said that around 80% of the land is ideal for olive cultivation and that the highest grade oil could be made from it. According to a survey, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has 70 million wild olive plants, which may be quickly modified into the best type, he added.

Dr Israr said that oil extraction devices have been placed for the benefit of farmers and that the cultivation and improvement of wild olive plants into the highest grade may bring in billions of rupees annually for the province. He said that the province produces 12,000 tonnes of honey, 6,000 tonnes of which are berry honey. According to him, 2,000 metric tonnes of honey were exported to several Gulf States.

The meeting was also attended by Director General (DG) of Agriculture (Extension) Jan Mohammad, DG of Research Abdul Bari, DG of Agriculture (Extension), Newly Merged Areas, Murad Ali, and agriculture experts including Ahmad Said, Mohammad Younas, and Aqil Shah.

Credit : Independent News Pakistan-WealthPk