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RedditA THREE-YEAR project for olive cultivation in regions where climate and soil are suitable for the crop, has been initiated by Pakistan Agriculture Research Council.
The Rs382 million project envisages olive plantation over 800 hectares — 300 hectares in Balochistan, 100 hectares in KP, 300 hectares in Fata and 100 hectares in the Pothohar region of Punjab.
Being funded under the Pakistan Italian debt-for-development swap agreement, the project will be managed through public private-partnership between Parc, local community-based organisations, non-governmental bodies and farmers’ associations.
Meanwhile, the Punjab government has declared the Pothowar region as ‘Olive Valley.’ It recently distributed olive plants to farmers, and organised training of olive growers in the region.
The Punjab Agriculture and Meat Company (Pamco) plans to develop 10 certified nurseries in the private sector in Attack, Rawalpindi, Chakwal, Jehlum and Khushab districts.
These nurseries would have a catchment area of 27000 acres while 0.4 million acres are being targeted for olive cultivation.
The Barani Agricultural Research Institute reports that the climate, temperature, soil, average rainfall and other factors in Sialkot, Narowal, Gujrat, Jhelum, Rawalpindi, Islamabad, Attock, Chakwal and Khushab suit olive cultivation.
Similarly in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Rs100 million has been earmarked for research and development on European olive, and maintenance of model olive farm at Sangbhatti.
There are millions of wild olive trees in the country which bear no or a seed-sized fruit. And the country has only 1130 acres of land under productive trees, out of an estimated 0.67-088 million hectares of wasteland suitable for olive cultivation.
Italy produces and exports millions of olive plantlets by standardising its nursery production system. To develop nurseries, Pakistan also needs to shift to tissue culture technology and open more germplasm units.
Olives are grown by budding mode and grafting on wild olive trees or planting of new trees. However, farmers have found the method of grafting the most successful.
Seedlings take long to mature and conversion of wild olives into productive cultivars is the best way. Research shows that around 80-90 per cent olive trees grown through T-bud grafting technique from August to September were successful.
The areas with an altitude ranging between 400 and 1,700 meters, slope of 20°, rainfall between 250mm and 1,000mm and a warm, semi arid, winter rain climate are most suitable for olive plants.
Olive production varies on the basis of temperature and rainfall. Rain falls abundantly in March (olive flowering season) and in summer (not typical of the olive-rich Mediterranean region).
This rain pattern poses risks for the olive cultivation–the first may heavily reduce the yield and the second- rainfall in summer— could make it prone to various plant diseases. This requires extra care and pesticides which means high cost of production. The common diseases in olive plants are trunk decay, sooty mould and peacock spot.
While olive tree usually bears fruit after 4-5 years, a farmer in Swat, however, said over 85 per cent of olive trees in the mountainous orchards dried up, and the rest began bearing fruit after 7-8 years.
An olive plant could bear over 40-45kg fruit after four years if sufficient care, protection, pesticides and fertilisers are provided.
The olive trees need more nitrogenous fertiliser than phosphorous and potash. The latter two fertilisers should be mixed in the soil before planting of trees at the rate of 200 kg and 300 kg per hectare respectively. Best time of nitrogen fertiliser is pre-flowering and stone-hardening stage.
In KP and tribal belt, too few olive nurseries and marketing worries have kept farmers away from olive plantation.
DAWN
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10:07 am
As Salaam O Elakum
.
Allah has gifted us with Pakistan which is full of His bounties.
Olive is mentioned in The Quran as Blessed Tree.
I have been involved in “Olive Pakistan” for last four years or so.
I have vast experience in mobilizing, encouraging, farmers and land owners in the regions specifically Chakwal and Khushab Districts.
My web page:
http://www.pakistanproduct.com/olive/olive.html
http://www.pakistanproduct.com/olive/oliveproducts.html
I believe one needs dedicated personnel to run this project successfully, those who are madly in love with Olives. I have some concepts to improve our farmers/households in the above areas through Olives. We started with 100KG four years ago and 2 years ago the Olive fruit collected by us was 2000KG. This year it is 3,000 as per our contacts with Olive grower’s number of trees which has reached commercial harvest have increased two folds. The trees by small farmers/landowners had been added every year, but boom needs inputs like Olive Saplings.
The new plantations done during 2010 – 2012 period will start bearing fruits from 2014 and this will add another few thousand kilos of fruit. In 2012 the bulk of about 40,000 trees are planted, and this year it will atleast 3 times.
First Most, our farmers/households living in these areas have small parcel of lands, but not very good returns due to “middle man” specifically, cash strapped, and then technology. Also what they grow is not very good priced crops. This area has potential of growing cash rich crops like Kalwangi, Zaffron, and other exotic vegetables and fruits, The matter is to have a marketing efforts pay full benefit to them. The model villages for different crops, with Olive’s trees as long term investment, which will give additional income to farmers.
One such plan is to provide olive saplings to small farmers at reduced rates, and assist them. In addition to nurseries being planned by the government of Punjab, these will head start the olive product. The detail discussion on the aspects and implementation can be done with stake holders and organizations which work in rural areas, one such in PAMCO (Punjab Agriculture & Meat Company) and SVDP (Soon Valley Development Program).
OLIVES can bring a bright future for our farmers in Arid Zones.
Wa Elakum As Salaam
Azam Sheikh
03336591777
10:09 am
Just need to add that we purchase olive fruits from any corner of Pakistan in any quantity from 10 Kg to 10000 KG
Azam
3:18 pm
Dear Sheikh Sahib.I have about 200 Kanals of land at the base of Margallah.I have not yet developed it.The area generally has Orange Orchads.I have a lot of ” KAO ” trees growing on the land.I was told that they are suitable for grafting Olives.I was wondering if you could advice me on this.Thanks and Regards.
8:52 am
As Salaam O Elakum
Dear Tariq Sb
Yes, KAO is being converted into olive fruit baring trees after grafting, there are different methods
You may contact Mr. Hakm Dad at 03018132083 of Havelain, Abbotabad who is an expert in grafting, meanwhile you can contact Mr. Hafiz Prof. Ashfaq Sb 0300 5079658 in UAAR Univeristy, Murree Rd, Rawalpindi for technical matters.
The KAO’s can be grafted and also OLIVE plants should also be planted within th eareas, as KAO’s act as grand parent to new olive plants, protecting them and helping them in good growth with Pollination.
THE FUTUTRE BELONGS TO OLIVE IN PAKISTAN
FUTUTRE BELONGS TO PAKISTAN.
Azam Sheikh
3:23 pm
Thank you for your prompt response Sheikh Sahib.Could you also educate me on any assistance schemes/organizations helping with development of land,water supply, plants,machinery,etc,please.
6:55 am
Dear Azam sheikh,
We shell be very thank full to you if you guide us for caltivation of olive tree in District Chackwal as well as where we get olive tree for free of cost. We as about 260 Kanal land with land scape can we plant the olive tree on it?
3:02 pm
one can approach:
Barani Agricultural Institute in Chakwal
(BARI 0543 594499) to get the technological help.
PAMCO (Punjab Agriculture & Meat Company)
http://www.pamco.bz/olive.html
They have criteria and after approval of application
has distributed olive plants free of cost last year to potential farmers who can propagate these and then turn them into nurseries in next 5 years selling saplings to future olive orchard plantations, this is a great business opportunity.
You can also approach Pakistan Agricultural Research Council, Islamabad. They are now getting plants of olives from Italy, may be sold at subsidised prices,
OLIVE TREES HAS FRUIT BEARING LIFE OF OVER 1000′s of years if taken care.
OLIVES can bring a bright future for our farmers in Arid Zones.
7:31 am
AoA, …… i am planning to plant olives in my land near chakwal, what do you suggest is the right (Qism) for this environment where we have hot summers ? where could i get good trees to start with ? Any subsidized rates or discounts in this italy project ?
Would really it
Husnain
0321-5295490
6:54 am
Dear Azam Nazir Sheikh,
As Salaam O Elakum, We have 260 Kanal land in District Chakwal and want to plant olive tree but finnance is major porblem. Can you help us for Searching an investor who invest for dripsystem as well as for plant, labour and land we will provide and profit will be distribute through an agriment?
Regard
Ghulam Rasool
03009504569