20/1/06 ISLAMABAD (DailyTimes)  -  The government is contemplating a plan to enhance cultivation of olive plants in the country and farmers have been offered incentives to encourage them to promote olive production.

Official sources said here on Thursday conducive conditions would be created for cultivation of this valuable crop in different parts of the country. The farmers have been advised to assist government endeavours for promotion of this crop, which will bring visible change in the living standard of the growing community.

The country spends valuable amount of foreign exchange on import of edible oil, which can be saved in better national interest by promoting the cultivation of this crop. In order to popularise the crop in potential areas, nurseries have been set up in various localities countrywide to grow the saplings of olive plant. Taking proper care of the olive plant, it can be brought to production stage in little time.

The total domestic consumption of edible oil is around 1.7 million tones, out of which 1.1 million tones is imported. The country spends Rs 28 million on the import of edible oil every year.

The oilseeds sector has shown encouraging growth in the country during the last couple of years. In this respect, the government is paying special attention to enhance the cultivation of canola, olive and palm oil in the country to save precious foreign exchange, he added. The production of banola oil is around 450,000 tones, sunflower 77,000 tones, canola 32,000 tones and other seeds 700 tones per year. app