Government to enhance olive oil production
By Asad Cheema

ISLAMABAD—The government has planned to enhance olive oil production and processing areas in 12 districts of Balochistan to bring 6000 acres land for cultivation of olive orchards.
According to the ministry of food and agriculture sources during the five years, 675000 plants in these districts which are considered as low delta crop for mass propagation of olive oil would be planted. The sources said to standardize the propagation and cultivation techniques for mass production of olive plants nurseries would be developed during the period.
The official said that about 6000 acres or equivalent number of trees will be developed as orchards on farmers’ field during the project period. The sources said that research wing of Agriculture Department has given a serious consideration to the problem of the drought in the region searching all possible solutions to overcome the crisis pertaining to water deficiency for all kinds of crops particularly olive orchard.
The sources said that fresh and positive experience on Olive (plea europea L.) cultivation in some selected location of the region performed mainly in horticulture Fruit Experimental Station Baghbana (Khuzdar), Fruit Experimental Station Loralai and Fruit Development center Quetta, Pishin, Mastung, Kalat, Kharan, Noshki, Barkhan, Musakhail, Zhob, Sibi (Harnai) has given good indication for promotion of this crop. The sources added that this fact is the most suitable orchards in these areas.
About purchase and installation of machinery and equipment the sources said during the period one green house was already set up at Quetta and 2 olive oil processing units were imported from Italy recently and three shade house were built at Quetta at Loralai for the purpose.
The sources added in this regard 72.22 per cent target of processing of olive has already been achieved.
The sources said that as the olive oil extraction unit have come in the country therefore the demand of olive plantation have been increased and people are taking interest in conversion of wild olive trees not European type in their area therefore the need and requirement of the project have been increased.
About justification of this project the official said that Pakistan is importing edible oil worth billion of Rupees annually. Promotion of Olive will help to reduce import bill considerably.
At the same time olive plant is drought tolerant therefore the water requirements is much lower then Apple, Peaches and Apricots and closer to Almonds, Pomegranates and grapes, the official said. Olive fruits are very important for the human consumption because they are utilized as a fruit after a natural process as table olives and for extraction of virgin Olive oil, which is considered the best fat for our food preparations, he added.