QUETTA: Balochistan Minister for Agriculture Mir Asadullah Baloch has said that considering the prevailing climate change situation in Balochistan, the provincial government has taken measures to promote olive, pine nuts and pistachio whose plants grow with less water.

He said that pistachio, being a climate-resilient and low-water-consuming crop, could be grown in cold areas of Balochistan without the conventional irrigation system.

“The environment of Quetta, Zhob, Killa Saifullah, Pishin, Mastung, Khuzdar and Kalat districts is the best for pistachio cultivation and its higher production,” the minister said on Friday while speaking at a meeting.

Mr Baloch said the department was encouraging farmers to cultivate pistachio, olive, saffron and other low water-consuming trees in colder areas of the province.

Published in Dawn, May 6th, 2023