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Potohar region has great potential for new olive plantation
ISLAMABAD (April 13 2003) : The Potohar region has great potential for undertaking olive plantation, budding and grafting owing to natural wild olive trees which are of fruit bearing type.
According to sources Chattar Forest Blocks, it is understood to have wild olive plantations with a modest count goes beyond three hundred thousand plants.
In Kallar Kahar, there are about 12,000 hectares forest where wild olive trees can be grafted so that these could bear olive fruits.
Similarly, Nurpur area is dominated by wild olive trees having different ages - from young to very old up to 150 years. Another area where wild forest having healthy trees suitable for top working is the sub-division of Choa Saidan Shah.
In order to have top working of already growing wild trees and for planting new ones, raising of nursery plants is a must.
It is understood that in Kaller Kahar, suitable areas are available which can help produce around one hundred thousand nursery plants.
Nursery raising of olives takes about 16 to 24 months but this period can be bypassed thorough tissue culture which can save time, money and labour.
For this purpose a laboratory at Turnab Farm has been reactivated with the help of Pakistan Oilseed Development Board.
About 700 hectares of mountainous areas surrounding Kaller Kahar lakes can be brought under olive cultivation. Private sector can be encouraged to take up the venture.
If all efforts succeed to bear fruit, the country will be in a good position to produce olives and olive oil, which will help earn foreign exchange.
The implementation of the programme has to be encouraged as it will not only help the government in earning foreign exchange but will help the private growers who are likely to take up the olive cultivation in improving their livelihood, incomes and welfare.
Courtesy Business Recorder
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Pakissan.com; Advisory Point
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