PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has launched Rs1 billion olive plantation project in the province.

Officials said that the initiative would help in generating billions of rupees revenue for the province besides bringing large areas of barren lands under cultivation. Additionally, it will also provide the farmers with an alternative crop which will help in bringing prosperity to the backward areas.

Provincial Minister for Public Health Engineering Shah Farman had launched the project in June this year in the Koh-i-Daman, Badhber, Mattani and Adezai areas of Peshawar. The project will be completed by June 2018.

Olive plantation project director Abdul Samad said that each tree would produce a minimum of 30 kilogrammes of olives which would help in generating Rs15 billion revenue each year. He said that the project was for lands on which major food crops were not grown.

“Olive is a strong plant that needs little water and fertiliser and can be grown anywhere, even in the mountainous areas. Currently, the area from Chitral to DI Khan has been chosen for plantation. Five million saplings will be planted in these areas and the project will be completed in two years,” he said.

Another agriculture department official said that olive plantation had high success ratio in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas. The project will provide a generous source of income by bringing large areas of barren lands in Fata under cultivation.

However, Mr Samad maintained that the saplings were being provided on two conditions. Firstly, the area under cultivation should have a proper and sustainable water supply and secondly, the farmers must take responsibility for securing the plantation from animals and other harms.

He said that the project would also result in bringing down the import of edible oil in Pakistan. “The highest import of Pakistan after crude oil is edible oil which has been recorded at over $1 billion last year,” he said.

The plantation would be able to start bearing fruit after four years and commercial production was expected after five years. “We have established a mill at Tarnab Farm for production of olive oil. These olive trees will help save billions of dollars each year by reducing our import of edible oil,” Mr Samad claimed.

Under the present project, officials of the agriculture department have explored the possibility of making wild olive trees productive through grafting. “Farmers who have wild olive plantation will be identified and trained on how to turn them productive. We can help them by providing them with the necessary materials. However, the plan will be implemented after approval from the secretary agriculture,” Mr. Samad said.

Published in Dawn, August 24th, 2016

Opinion

Editorial

Afghan turbulence
Updated 19 Mar, 2024

Afghan turbulence

RELATIONS between the newly formed government and Afghanistan’s de facto Taliban rulers have begun on an...
In disarray
19 Mar, 2024

In disarray

IT is clear that there is some bad blood within the PTI’s ranks. Ever since the PTI lost a key battle over ...
Festering wound
19 Mar, 2024

Festering wound

PROTESTS unfolded once more in Gwadar, this time against the alleged enforced disappearances of two young men, who...
Defining extremism
Updated 18 Mar, 2024

Defining extremism

Redefining extremism may well be the first step to clamping down on advocacy for Palestine.
Climate in focus
18 Mar, 2024

Climate in focus

IN a welcome order by the Supreme Court, the new government has been tasked with providing a report on actions taken...
Growing rabies concern
18 Mar, 2024

Growing rabies concern

DOG-BITE is an old problem in Pakistan. Amid a surfeit of public health challenges, rabies now seems poised to ...