RECORDER REPORT

SIALKOT: Punjab government has chalked out a well-knitted-five-year plan for the promotion of Olive crop in the province. Official sources told Business Recorder on Sunday that under the plan special attention will be accorded on scientific cultivation of olive crop for attaining yielding results.

Under the plan, the government will provide free of cost 2 million plants to the selected growers of Jhelum, Rawalpindi, Attock, Chakwal and Khushab, which are potential areas for olive cultivation in Punjab.

Olive orchard cultivation throughout these potential areas of Punjab could produce much quantity of oil, which may certainly bring Pakistan’s olive oil import share to zero.

According to the experts, the prevailing environment, minimum/maximum temperature, soil types, average rainfall and other related growth factors in Sialkot, Narowal and Gujrat areas are exactly according to olive cultivation requirements and Punjab Agriculture department should consider these areas for cultivation of olive crop.

They said that marginal lands could be utilized for olive cultivation without replacing the other crops and it will help in reducing the import bill of the country.