SIALKOT: Punjab government has chalked out a plan for the cultivation of olive crop through modern means for attaining high yields in the province.
Official sources while talking to APP here on Thursday said that Sialkot, Narowal, Gujrat, Jhelum, Rawalpindi, Islamabad, Attock, Chakwal and Khushab districts were the potential areas for suitable olive cultivation.
Olive orchard cultivation throughout these potential areas of Punjab could produce substantial quantity of oil which would bring down olive oil import bill.
According to experts, required environment, minimum/maximum temperature, soil types, average rainfall and other related growth factors were available in the selected areas. Marginal lands could be utilized for olive cultivation without replacing other crops, sources added.
Meanwhile, the agriculture department Punjab was conducting awareness and training programmes to create awareness regarding olive cultivation techniques and producing value added products.
It may be added that overall home demand of olive oil is 1.9 million tons of which 1.3 million tons is being imported from various countries, it was learnt.
Comments
Comments are closed.