Pakistan seeks to beat Spain, become largest olive producer in the world

Pakistan is ambitious to beat Spain and become the world’s biggest olive producer. We are working to increase olive production to help in reconstructing the economy.

Pakistan has set ambitions to become the largest olive producer in the world. April this year Pakistan Government had coined the brand, Pak Olive, as the name and certification chosen to label the high-quality olive oil coming from the public sector.

Pakistan has more land suitable for the cultivation of olive than Spain the current number one producer of olive in the world.

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“With the 2019/20 season, the estimated olive oil production capacity in Pakistan will reach approximately 1,400 tons. By the year 2027, production is expected to reach 16,000 tons,” Muhammad Tariq, director of Pak Olive had told ‘Olive Oil Times’

Agriculture expert Kamal Haider had explained that the dependency of Pakistan on importing edible oils could be reduced by producing olive. Every year according to Haider Pakistan imports $2 billion worth of edible oils.

Olive trees imported from Italy and Spain

Thousands of trees were imported into the country, together with experts who helped to identify the most promising areas for olive cultivation. Around 10 million acres have already been identified for growing olives; areas in which the crop will not compete with other fruit trees, cereal, or oilseed crops.

To be competitive in the international market, the project will also train workers on how to use modern extraction techniques in the mills.

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Interest from farmers in growing olives and producing oil is also growing rapidly. This has partly been fostered by the special characteristics of the olive trees, which can survive in dry and arid conditions that are generally inhospitable for other crops.

#Pakistan’s #olive oil producers prepare to enter global market

Country's olive production is expected to reach 16000 tonnes by 2027

Pakistani olive oil producers are preparing to enter global market as 27.5 million olive trees on more than 30000 acres of land have been planted pic.twitter.com/l94ppL9YMZ

— Developing Pakistan (@developingpak) July 31, 2020

In addition to being drought tolerant, olive trees also require relatively low levels of investment, compared to other crops, while still yielding a return, which has also increased interest in Pakistan.

GVS News Desk