ISLAMABAD, Sept 22 (ABC): Pakistan’s olive cultivation drive has expanded to 60 districts under the PSDP Olive Project, engaging 12,000 farmers. The country is developing a farm-to-fork value chain covering cultivation, processing, quality control and value addition.
According to official documents available with Wealth Pakistan, more than 7.5 million olive trees have been planted nationwide over around 60,400 acres. The plantation has taken place under federal, provincial and international development programmes.
Of these, 66%, or 5 million trees, have been planted under the PSDP Olive Project. The project now covers 60 districts and engages 12,000 olive farmers.
Another 6,594 acres of olive groves have been equipped with water-saving irrigation systems to improve water-use efficiency.
Over 4m hectares suitable for olive cultivation
The documents show that Pakistan has more than 4 million hectares of potential olive plantation area. The country also has millions of wild olive trees.
Pakistan has developed defined olive-growing clusters across different zones and approved 22 olive varieties for cultivation.
Initially, the country depended on sapling imports from Mediterranean countries. However, Pakistan shifted to domestic propagation of olive plants in 2022. Public-private partnerships and targeted capacity building have supported the shift and helped save foreign exchange.
Olive processing infrastructure expands
The development of processing infrastructure has accompanied the expansion in cultivation.
A total of 51 olive oil extraction units have been installed across Punjab, Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Azad Jammu and Kashmir.
Of these, 15 extraction units were established under the PSDP project. Provincial governments, the World Bank, Pakistan Poverty Alleviation Fund, TIKA and other agencies have supported other facilities.
Supporting infrastructure includes six fruit-processing units and 500 pre- and post-harvest kits. It also includes 14 DS nursery tunnels, five weather stations and four laboratories equipped for olive oil quality analysis.
Nearly 18,000 stakeholders receive training
Human resource development has also formed a major part of the initiative.
A total of 276 capacity-building programmes have benefited 17,986 stakeholders nationwide. The programmes cover orchard and nursery management, post-harvest handling and Good Agricultural Practices.
They also cover Good Manufacturing Practices, oil extraction and value addition.
The documents said more than 36 publications on different aspects of the olive value chain had been developed. In addition, dedicated project websites, educational YouTube channels and an interactive dashboard are being used to disseminate information among stakeholders.
More than 100 entrepreneurs enter olive sector
The olive sector has also expanded into entrepreneurship and value-added production.
More than 100 entrepreneurs are now engaged in olive oil and other value-added products under individual brands. These products include pickles, jams, cosmetics, soaps and nutraceuticals.
Maintaining quality standards to support future exports is another major focus. Pakistan has already received international recognition for quality through the award-winning “LO-Loralai Olives”.
The documents said the decade-long national olive cultivation programme, spearheaded by the Ministry of National Food Security and Research, had helped turn barren lands into productive orchards. It has also contributed to a more resilient and sustainable olive ecosystem.
FAOSTAT data cited in the documents show a promising trend. Olive oil imports have decreased significantly, while exports have increased over the same period.
Olive sector projected to add Rs7.6bn annually
Economic modelling suggests that the sector will contribute Rs7.6 billion annually to the national economy 10 years after completion of the project covering 33,000 acres.
The benefits could continue for more than a century under sustained quality standards and farm-to-fork practices.
The documents also identify carbon sequestration and climate resilience among the wider benefits of olive-sector development. Improved public health and the potential to reduce future healthcare expenditure are also listed as benefits.
Meanwhile, Pakistan has been granted permanent status in the International Olive Council.
The country has also formulated a national olive policy and action plan. The cabinet has approved the Olive Policy, which has also been officially launched by the Prime Minister.
The policy provides a framework for sustainable growth and regulation of the olive industry. It focuses on increasing agricultural productivity, promoting value addition and reducing dependence on imported edible oils.
