Punjab plans Zaytoon valley in Pothohar region

MULTAN: Olive plantation is rare in Punjab, but now the Punjab Agriculture Department has planned to develop a Zaytoon valley in the Pothohar region, North Punjab, an official told The News on Friday.

Olive fruit has a lot of health-promoting effects, including oil extraction that leads to nutritional benefits with antioxidants, anti-cancer, anti-diabetic, antitoxin, and anti-microbial properties. Edible olive oil contains unsaturated fatty acids, which prevent cardiovascular diseases by regulating blood cholesterol levels.

Punjab Agriculture Secretary Iftikhar Ali Sahu has devised an exclusive strategy to promote olive plantation in Pothohar, north Punjab. Statistics say that Pakistan has 80m wild and 5m planted olive trees, and the goal is to grow 50m olives on 10m acres by 2026. Olive farming in Pakistan will not only help in meeting the local needs for edible oil but will also have many secondary benefits. In 2022, Pakistan became the 19th member of the IOC

and exported virgin and extra virgin olive oil worth Rs 1.9m.

There is a need for awareness and training, tools, infrastructure, quality testing, storage, packaging, branding, market facilities etc, officials added. The Punjab Agriculture Department has provided 19, 20, 000 olive trees to transform the Pothohar region into an olive valley in the true sense. The Punjab Agriculture Department has provided 13,20, 000 saplings free of charge while under the national plan 600, 000 olive saplings have been provided to farmers in Pothohar at a 67pc subsidy.

In Pakistan, efforts are being made to promote the cultivation of high-value crops such as avocados and argan farming in the Pothar region. The agriculture department is providing technical guidance to increase the quality and production of fruits like grapes, olives, and tomatoes. Additionally, measures for land conservation, construction of mini dams, water ponds, and high-efficiency irrigation systems have been implemented in the region.

In Pakistan, efforts are being made to promote the cultivation of high-value crops such as avocados and argan farming in the Pothohar. The agriculture department is providing technical guidance to increase the quality and production of fruits like grapes, olives, and tomatoes. Additionally, measures for land conservation, construction of mini dams, water ponds, and high-efficiency irrigation systems have been implemented in the region.