Pakistan's Olive Revolution: Boosting Edible Oil Production, Cutting Imports
Pakistan embarks on an olive cultivation revolution, aiming to boost domestic edible oil production and reduce import dependency, engaging thousands of farmers.
03/03/2024 (BNN Breaking) - Pakistan is undergoing a transformative phase in agriculture, with a significant increase in olive cultivation, particularly in the Pothohar region, Balochistan, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, and other areas, aiming to enhance domestic edible oil production and reduce import reliance. The country's climate change ministry is spearheading an ambitious plan to plant over one million olive plants, tapping into the fertile lands of Pothohar, termed as 'olive valley,' where over 1.2 million olive plants are already flourishing, engaging around 1,300 farmers.
Olive Cultivation: A National Project
Dr. Muhammad Tariq, the national project director for the promotion of olive cultivation, highlights the project's success, with more than half of the olive plants starting to bear fruit, predicting a substantial increase in olive oil production. This initiative not only aims to bolster the local economy by engaging farmers but also seeks to position Pakistan as a significant player in the global olive oil market. With the government's support, over 1.5 million olive plants have been planted under the project's second phase, covering 75,000 acres of mainly culturable waste land across the country.
Reducing Import Dependency
With over 80% of Pakistan's edible oil requirements met through imports, the push for increased olive oil production is a strategic move to alleviate the economic burden. Dr. Waqas Cheema, a scientific officer at the olive cultivation project, emphasizes the importance of this initiative in reducing reliance on imported edible oil and saving foreign exchange. Additionally, the project focuses on grafting five million wild olives and implementing water-saving technologies like Drip Irrigation Systems to enhance productivity.
Future Outlook and Challenges
Despite the optimistic projections, the project faces challenges, including funding shortages and the need for a more robust value chain in the olive sector. However, the government is committed to expanding olive cultivation, with plans to graft over two million wild olive trees and establish certification labs for quality control and exports. This concerted effort is poised to transform Pakistan's agricultural landscape, making it a key olive oil producer and reducing its dependency on imported edible oils.