Islamabad: Pakistan’s olive cultivation is soon expected to receive a boost with the arrival of up to 100,000 olive plants from Turkey and Spain, a news source reported. This new development comes as part of a project aimed at enhancing commercial-level olive cultivation within the country.
The National Agricultural Centre has been charged with overseeing the operation. The said body plans to import a total of 550,000 plants. Project Director Dr Tariq Bari revealed that over 150,000 olive plants will arrive in Pakistan by next week. He added that the remaining plants will arrive later.
Presently, the government is promoting olive cultivation on a commercial level under the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP). The Planning Commission has been forwarded a new PC-1 for the purpose. This document aims to broaden the reach of the project to include areas most suitable for olive cultivation.
The government plans to bring olive farming to the erstwhile FATA agencies, Waziristan, and other districts of Balochistan; since the plant is drought-tolerant.
Dr Bari says that a study for the prospective cultivation areas, under consideration, has been concluded. It has indicated the locations most suited to olive cultivation. He added that olive farming will offer increased livelihood opportunities to the farmers in the region.
The study’s projections shows that 45% of the land in FATA agencies is suitable for olive cultivation. Meanwhile, parts of Bajaur, Kurram, and North & South Waziristan have showcased their suitability for plantation.
In Balochistan, Loralai, Musa Khel, Zhob, Kila Saifullah, and Khuzdar have been identified as areas suited to olive cultivation.
