PHDEC webinar highlights brown beetle threat to olive sector

KARACHI: The olive industry has stepped up its focus on pest management amid concerns over the impact of the brown (June) beetle on orchard productivity, as the country eyes greater self-sufficiency and export potential in olive oil.

The Pakistan Horticulture Development & Export Company (PHDEC) this week hosted a webinar aimed at educating growers on integrated pest management (IPM) practices to combat the beetle, whose presence poses a growing threat to olive cultivation in several regions.

The event forms part of broader institutional efforts to modernise the country’s horticulture sector. “We are working to support not just production and processing, but also sustainability and resilience in the supply chain,” said Dr Ramzan Ansar, director of the Centre of Excellence for Olive Research & Training (CEFORT), during his presentation. He outlined ongoing collaboration between the PHDEC, Punjab government and other stakeholders to boost sectoral research and expand the national footprint of olive farming.

Dr Kamil Hasnain, also of CEFORT, offered a technical briefing on pest control measures, advocating a multi-pronged IPM strategy. He described a balanced approach involving cultural practices, biological control, selective chemical application and environmental adjustments. “Sole reliance on chemical pesticides is neither sustainable nor effective,” he noted, emphasising the importance of ecosystem-based management and orchard hygiene.

The session was well received by participants, who welcomed the scientific, practical recommendations and called for continued capacity-building in the sector. The PHDEC reaffirmed its commitment to supporting growers through education and research-led interventions, positioning horticulture as a key contributor to Pakistan’s export diversification strategy.