Hidden within the abundant biodiversity of the Margalla foothills, is one of Pakistan’s lesser known natural secrets; olives. In fact, very few of us know that olives are quite natural to this country.
Olive trees are found, quite abundantly in Islamabad, Haripur, areas of Azad Kashmir, Murree and Potohar region. These are one of the naturally grown indigenous species called wild olives (Olea cuspidata). However, these olive trees don’t bear fruits.
Olive branch symbolizes peace. Since antiquity, the olive has been a legendary tree for various reasons including its dietary value. The Quran also mentions olive as a ‘blessed tree’ and being a tree “neither of the East nor of the West but a universal one”. In fact the sacred symbolism of olive is referred in three suras.
Olive is found in the evergreen forests of Pakistan on the foothills at an altitude of 1000-1500 feet above sea level where the annual rainfall is about 500mm. Olive is one of the ancient trees in this area, probably brought here by either the Greeks or Arabs. It takes a long time for an olive tree to grow starting from a shrub and then bearing fruit, but after that olive trees can liveup to 1500 years. The tree bears green or black olives, depending on when they are picked. They are green in the months of November and December and black in January and February.
The areas around the Mediterranean are the main centres for global olive production. Italy, Spain, Morocco and Tunisia are the hubs of olive production. Although olives are consumed as a vegetable, for pickles and oil all over the world, Europe and Arabia are areas where they are consumed the most.
Olive oil is highly valued for its various properties. Its distinctive trait is to have a wide variety of valuable antioxidant that are not found in other oils. It has a protective effect against certain malignant tumours and also makes a lowering effect on blood pressure. An olive oil rich diet is not only a good alternative in the treatment of diabetes but it may also help to prevent this disease. Moreover, olive oil bolsters the immune system against external attacks. It is also beneficial during pregnancy and whilst breast feeding.
The olive zone in Pakistan has mature and well grown trees. But these trees are not fruit bearing that is why they are called wild olives. However, these trees can be converted into fruit bearing trees tree rough techniques of grafting and budding. Grafting is mostly employed for this purpose. After grafting, within about two and half years, trees can start producing fruits. As the tree is evergreen it will have incessant growth throughout the year. Experimental grafting of these olive trees is being accomplished for the last year and it has proved amazingly successful. This has been carried out in some areas of Mansehra and Khanpur in NWFP.
More grafting work is in progress by some NGOs and state institutions like the Forest Department of NWFP, Agri Extension Department of Punjab as well as Pakistan Agri Research Council, but it is confined to small pockets. It has yet to be initiated on a mass scale. Grafting is a simple job that does not require much technical expertise as well as finances. It is also lesser labour intensive. Thus if grafting training is given to the local residents of these areas, they can do this job themselves.
People are unaware of this huge wealth scattered around them. They use foliage of olives as fodder and burn its wood as fuel. And that of course is due to the fact that poverty is rampant in these areas and amenities of life are very sparse. These areas comprise of remote villages where there are no roads and very few villages have electricity. And though these areas present a good opportunity for developing tourism — there are a few hiking tracks around — olives can prove to be gold mines for the people of this area.
Hameed Mama, a forester and natural resource expert in Islamabad, is very optimistic about the great potential of olive wealth in Pakistan. He laments the lack of will on the part of those responsible and consequently leaving it untapped. A reasonably low input can bring an astonishing social development of these areas.
Pakistan can be self-reliant in olive production and its economical availability in the country. Presently, Pakistan imports expensive olives and that is why olives are not popular in the country.
It was realized after a long time that tea could be grown in NWFP. Tea was planted here and that proved very successful. Experts have estimated that quality and quantity of tea in this area will make Pakistan self-sufficient in tea production. It means a major economic activity and huge saving of forex. Similarly olives can be another discovery of natural wealth in the country. Olives don’t have the same socio-economic problems that tea plantation is having. Olives are not to be planted, as myriads of them are naturally grown. Secondly they don’t require the abolition of traditional farming. But it is ironic that despite all these favourable circumstances, steps are not taken to promote olive grafting extensively. Perhaps an awareness campaign is fundamental to tap this wealth.
Olive education and training to local population can bring out required results. It, however, will require more agencies from public and private sector to work for this purpose.
A strategy needs to be devised for the promotion of olive production, marketing and its export. It can be embodied in the national agriculture policy. Furthermore, a national research cell and training institute will help in bringing olives in the markets of Pakistan. On the other hand olives need to be introduced in the food culture of the country. Recently in a special package to the tribal areas, the federal government has included loans to grow olives in these areas. Similar incentives can also be extended to other areas of the natural olive zone. Above all the future vision of olive production in Pakistan should not bring any casualty to the pristine environment of this region. Olive development policies should, however, incorporate the environment protection as an essential objective. It is not new here that development of one thing occurs at the cost of another thing. Environment friendly development can only bring prosperity to the people anywhere in the world.
Hidden within the abundant biodiversity of the Margalla foothills, is one of Pakistan’s lesser known natural secrets; olives. In fact, very few of us know that olives are quite natural to this country.
