Our Correspondent Lahore
The third annual National Olive Festival was held at the National Agricultural Research Centre, Islamabad.
The olive festival was organized under the Pak Olive Project executed by National Agricultural Research Centre Islamabad and Barani Agricultural Research Institute Chakwal.
The National Olive Festival was attended by a large number of Spanish ambassadors, Commercial Attaches and Tanzanian Ambassador Burhani Alkamal, agricultural scientists researching olives, olive growers and manufacturers of olive products.
Chairman Pakistan Agriculture Research Council Dr. Ghulam Muhammad Ali graced the occasion as the chief guest.
On this occasion, he inaugurated the National Olive Festival. Addressing the inaugural function, he said that the present government is working to increase the production of oil products. Pakistan spends over Rs 350 billion annually on the import of edible oil.
Promoting olive cultivation will reduce this bill. He added that holding the National Olive Festival would help in the promotion of olive fruit and its products.
On the occasion, Dr. Zafar Iqbal, Chief Scientist / Director General of Agriculture (Research), Ayub Agricultural Research Institute, Faisalabad, said that cultivation of olives is not only increasing employment opportunities but it is also playing an important role in preventing land erosion.
In addition, there will be positive effects on climate change. He further said that all the stakeholders have to work together to increase the production of olives. On the occasion, Dr. Khair Mohammad Kakar, Managing Director, Pakistan Oil Seed, said that at present, olive production in Pakistan is being recognized internationally.
In a few days, Pakistan is going to sign an agreement with the International Olive Council to promote olives, which will provide financial assistance to Pakistan to promote olive production. Over the next few years, olive production in Pakistan will increase significantly.
Giving a briefing on the occasion, Dr. Muhammad Tariq, Director, National Olive Plan said that under the National Plan, 4.1 million saplings have been planted across the country on subsidy and so far 36,000 acres have been planted.
In the next three years, 75,000 acres of olive groves will be planted on subsidy. In addition, 5 million wild olives will be transplanted. In addition, women and youth will be trained in modern olive tolerance and olive fruit extraction. Small olive strain units will be set up for women.
Muhammad Rafiq Dogar, Director, Barani Agricultural Research Institute, Chakwal, while giving a briefing on the occasion, said that with the efforts of Barani Agricultural Research Institute, Chakwal, 1.5 million olive saplings have been planted in Pothwar region.
Has been provided on subsidy and olives have been cultivated on 11,000 acres in Pothwar under one scheme.
Under the same scheme, modern drip irrigation system was also installed at 70% subsidy to solve the problems of olive irrigation. In addition, olive oil is being supplied to the farmers on subsidy.
