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Olive Plantation in Pakistan

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For your kind information, wild olive trees have existed in the Zhob valley of Baluchistan for a long time. During the British times Zhob town was known as Fort Sandeman. Perhaps that is how it is still shown in the Indian Geography books.

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A lot of folks dont realise, wild olives are wide spread across most of african continent (north and southern) and parts of western asia; similarly wild fig is in the same category. Sometimes for insulators we use wild olive wood here because it is extremely hard and resilient.

In greece, when a child is born, tradition dictates an olive tree must be planted in their name; plus the govt there deliberately plants millions of trees. Especially in Baluchistan/Sistan and other parts of iran, it can easily be grown. Similarly i have seen hundreds of trees in Azerbaijan just growing away and people do harvest them.

It is one of those trees which outlasts a person by 2 generation at least and yields a lot of benefits. Oil; the residual oil is used for soap; a huge market just for it.

Another thing we do here in our farm is orange/lemon peel; how many of you just throw it away; we distill citrus oils in our yard shed and sell them as our trees on our farm are without pesticide use and hence certified organic.
 
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Empowering local communities: Olive trees spell greener days for Lower Dir’s farmers


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Olive trees in Talaash, Lower Dir where local farmers process the fruit to make an income out of it. PHOTO: FAZAL KHALIQ/EXPRESS

LOWER DIR:
With soil and climate highly-favourable for the olive tree, Lower Dir is home to millions of wild olive trees which bear no fruit and are thus extensively used for fuel. Agriculturists believe converting the wild trees into fruit-bearing ones can radically change the lives of locals and generate significant revenue for the country.

With this aim, the four-year Programme for Economic Advancement and Community Empowerment (PEACE), funded by the European Union and implemented by the Sarhad Rural Support Programme, was launched in 2013 in all districts of Malakand Division—Swat, Shangla, Buner, Lower Dir, Upper Dir, Chitral and Malakand Agency.

Under the project, local farmers were trained in converting wild olive trees into fruit-bearing ones, proper fruit processing and strategies to make their olive businesses profitable.

To date, the project has benefited hundreds of people. Local farmers say they were aware of the benefits of olives, but did not know the proper method of converting wild trees into productive ones and ways of processing the fruit.

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“There are millions of wild olive trees in this region. We thought they were of no use except wood for fuel because we were not aware of the plant’s financial benefits,” said Zafar Ali, a resident of Amluk Dara Talaash, who has converted 300 wild olive trees and planted 400 new ones in his farm with the help of the PEACE programme.

“Now, we know the monetary benefits of olive trees and have been trained in the technicalities of wild tree grafting and proper tree management. In the next five years, Dir district will have a thriving olive industry,” he said.

Muhammad Israr is a Dheria Talaash native who has more than 10,000 olive trees of which 4,000 are in the bearing stage and produce 12 tonnes of fruit annually. “We used to employ traditional methods earlier and would lose much of the fruit during the harvest, however, after getting training we have learnt to process the fruit properly. This has minimised our losses and increased income,” he said.

According to the programme’s official, Amjad Ali, locals have been trained in how to add value to raw olives through advanced technologies of preservation and olive product development. Moreover, owners of olive trees in Lower Dir are now organised under the Business Interest Group and can reap benefits from the olive market.

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According to Falak Naz Shah, the head of Agriculture Research Institute (ARI) Tarnab’s food technology department, there are 80 million wild olive trees in Malakand and 18,000 of them have been turned productive through grafting.

He said farmers should be assisted by not just training but also by the provision of relevant tools and equipment, storage facilities and preservatives. “If the millions of wild trees are converted into fruit-producing ones, and the product processed and packaged properly, billions of rupees can be generated for the country,” he said.

By Fazal Khaliq
 
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Scope of olive cultivation in Pakistan
By Muhammad Shoaib Ahmedani*, Shehbaz Ahmed Warraich**
*Ph.D. Scholar, department of Entomology, UAAR.
** Dean Faculty of Crop and Food Sciences, University of Arid Agriculture, Rawalpindi.



1: Introduction:
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There is a lot of potential for olive cultivation in Pakistan. The estimates have revealed that if eight million wild olive trees present in different provinces are grafted and converted into the productive olive then there is a potential of earning a maximum of one billion dollars annually (Table-4). Similarly, we may earn a maximum of 9 billion dollars annually if olive cultivation is made on cultivable potential waste lands (Table-5). The olive appears to have been native to Asia, being one of the earliest trees cultivated by man. The trees belong to oleaceae family and comprise 30 genera with 600 species. The plant is xerophitic upon species of tree the olea-europea or Europium olive. Olive is an integral part of the diet of the people of the Mediterranean lands and is a source of fat in diet of these people. Olive oil is widely used in countries where fats are scarce. In Indo-Pak sub-continent a wild olive, olea cuspida is found within the northwest Himalayas and other adjoining hills but cultivated olive olea Europea is not grown anywhere on commercial scale. This plant is locally known as Zytoon in Urdu, Showan in Pushtu, Khat in Brahavi and kow in Punjabi, Sindhi and Saraiki. The importance of olive oil has also been narrated several times in the Holy Quran. During the mid of last century;( around 1950s), a number of grafted olive plants of several varieties were imported and planted in Kashmir, Simla and Kangra hills at Harnai, Fort Sandeman (Zhob) in Balochistan, Peshawar, Swat (NWFP), Rawalpindi, Sargodha, and Jhelum (Punjab) districts.


1.1:OLIVE MAP


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1.2: BOTANICAL PERSPECTIVE OF OLIVE



Genera

Ø Fraxinus

Ø Ligustrum

Ø Syringa

Ø Olea ( olive


CULTIVARS OF Olea europaea


Ø Nocellara del belice

Ø Nocellara

Ø Biancolilla

Ø Coratina

Ø Carolea

Ø Ottoberitica

Ø Leccino

Ø Pendolino

Ø Uslo

Ø Gemlik

Ø Domate

Ø Moraiolo



1.3 OLIVE VARITIES

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Alfonso

These are very large purplish olives. They have a distinctive acidic bite.


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Arbequina

These are very small, even tiny olives that are a medium brown color. They originate in Spain (the Siurana district in Catalonia) and are characterized by a small amount of pleasantly bitter flesh on each olive. They are always brine cured. This olive is also prized for making excellent olive oil.


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Ascolane

From the Italian Cuneau district, this is a very large and meaty olive with a delicate flavor.



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Atalanti

Named for the town of Atalanti in eastern Greece on the Aegean Sea. These green olives are rather pale/gray in color, medium round, and have a "zingy" flavor.



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Dry Cured

Often cured in sea salt in order to draw out the moisture from the olive over a period of several weeks. After this period is ready to eat. Typically these olives are stored in a little olive oil.





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Elitses

A Greek olive not unlike a French Nicoise olive. Its color ranges in color from purple to black. It is a small olive with little flesh.






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Farga Aragon
A Spanish olive from the Aragon district. It is brine cured, deep brown, and tender fleshed.





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Gaeta

A famous black olive from Greece. It has a moderately pungent and "deep" flavor.






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Kalamata

A variety of Greek olives that originate from the city of Kalamata in the Southern Peloponnese of Greece. Kalamata olives are pickled in wine vinegar. The pickling process develops a very pronounced flavor of salt and vinegar. They have a very meaty flesh which is strong in flavor.



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Manzanilla

This green olive originates in Spain in the Andalousia district. It is medium sized with a flavor reminiscent of almonds. It goes particularly well with tapas and sherry.



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Nafplion

Named for the small seaside town in Greece, this is a small, green olive with a nutty flavor.





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Nicoise

French Nicoise olive. Its color ranges in color from purple to black. It is a small olive with little flesh.









1.4: OLIVE FROM RELIGIOUS PERSPECTIVE


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The divine revelation Quran deals some species of plants including Mustard tree or tooth brush tree, Acacia, Onion, Pomegranate, Grape, Fig, Euphorbia, Sweet basil, Gourd, Cucumber, Garlic, Lentil, Ginger, Heena, Cedar, Date, Manna, Tamarisic, Cactus-Bitter, Blessed Tree and Olive.

Olives have been mentioned seven times in the Quran and their health benefits have been propounded in Prophetic medicine.

Ø By the fig and olive And the mount of Sinai And the city of security We have indeed created man in the best of moulds (The Fig, Surah 95)

Ø “ Zaithun is a plant of useful characters neither of east nor west” (Sura Noor – 35).

Ø Allah is the one who sends water down from the sky therewith we brought froth plants of all kinds and from them the verdure and we brought forth from it the clustered grains, and from the palm trees its spathes with bunches of dates, the gardens of grapes, olive and pomegranates, similar and different look at their fruit when they bear it and their ripeing, varity in that their signs for people who believe (Quran 6:99)

Ø And a tree (olive) that springs forth from Mount Sinai, that grows (produces) oil, and (it is) relish for the eaters. ( 23:20 )

Ø He causes to grow for you the crops, the olives, the date-palms, the grapes, and every kind of fruit (16:10-11)


The Prophet Muhammad (may the peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) is reported to have said: Take oil of olive and massage with it – it is a blessed tree.

Ø Hazrath Abu Hurairah narrates that the Prophet (Pbuh) stated, “Eat the olive oil and apply it (locally), since there is cure for seventy diseases in it, one of them is Leprosy.” (Abu Naim)

Ø Hazrat Zaid Bin Arqam narrates, “ We have been directed by the Prophet (Pbuh) that we should treat the Pleurisy with Qust-e-Behri (Qust Sheerin) and olive oil.” (Tirmizi, sanadeAhmed, Ibn Maja)

Ø Hazrat Sayyed Al-Ansari narrates that the Prophet (Pbuh) said “Eat the olive oil and massage it over your bodies since it is a holy (mubarak) tree.” (Tirmizi, Ibn Maja)

Ø Hazrat Alqama Bin Amir narrates that Prophet (Pbuh) said, “ There is olive oil for you, eat it, massage over your body, since it is effective in Heamorrhoids (Piles).” (Ibn Al-Jozi, Zanbi)

Ø Hazrat Aqba Bin Amir narrates that the Prophet (Pbuh) stated, “You have the olive oil from this Holy (mubarak) tree, treat yourself with this, since it cures the Anal fissure (Basoor).”


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In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, Was there the Tree of Life, Which bare twelve manner of fruit every month: And the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. Revelation 22:1-2






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A breath which comes from this world shakes the branches of the Tree of Life, Which spreads the fragrance of the future world in this world, And brings the holy souls alive. These souls come up waking each other . . And the Tree of Life rejoices. The Zohar III, 1731







There is a tree, the root of Transmigration, the Asvattha Tree everlasting. Its branches spread from earth to heaven, and the powers of nature give them life.

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Its buds are the pleasures of the senses. Far down below, its roots stretch into the world of men, binding a mortal through selfish actions. Men do not see the changing form of that tree, nor its beginning, nor its end, nor where its roots are? Bhagavad-Gita 15:1-5




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1.4 SECRET OF OLIVE TREE



The secret of the olive tree is in two things: its fruit, the olive itself, and its massive underground root system that can extend over twenty feet. The roots are so extensive and strong that in times of drought, when other trees die, the zaytuna tree is still standing because it draws from deep within the earth when the heavens withhold their life-giving water. Another aspect of these roots is that they enable the tree to produce olives for hundreds of years: even after the tree looks as if there is no life left in it, it continues to produce olives.

Chemical composition of Olive: Oleic acid, stearic acid, Myristic acid, palmatic acid, linolic acid, arachidic acid and non-drying acid.


Chemical composition of Olive: Oleic acid, stearic acid, Myristic acid, palmatic acid, linolic acid, arachidic acid and non-drying acid









1.5: OLIVE FRUIT TYPES AND NUTRIONAL VALUE



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  1. Fresh olive at the picking stage. [To the lower right is a sectioned olive showing the stony endocarp (pit) surrounding the seed.
  2. Fresh olive that is turning black on tree.
  3. Pitted, canned olive treated with ferrous gluconate.
  4. Pitted, canned green olive stuffed with pimento, a bright red Capsicum pepper cultivar. Fresh olives are soaked in lye (sodium hydroxide) to remove the bitter oleuropein. Commercially grown olives are picked green and are oxidized in air (aerated) to produce the black color. The black color of canned olives is stabilized with ferrous gluconate. Oxidation is prevented in green olives to preserve their color.

Unlike most unsaturated plant oils which come from seeds, monounsaturated olive oil is obtained from the pulp or mesocarp of the fruit. Virgin olive oil is obtained from the 1st pressing.
 
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NUTRITIONAL IMPORTANCE OF OLIVE


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The Vitamin E contained in Olives is the body's primary fat-soluble antioxidant. Anti-oxidants help to strengthen the body's immune system; reducing the severity of asthma, cancer, osteoarthritis, and rheumatoid arthritis, premature ageing, as well as delaying the effects of ageing.

Ø Olives contain compounds called polyphenols that appear to have significant anti-inflammatory properties. Imam as-Suyuti comments that in using olive oil as a balm, you fortify your limbs and as a result reduce inflammation.

Ø The juice of the olive, otherwise known as olive oil (Zayt), is a delicious source of antioxidants. This oil is monounsaturated, and it has a positive effect on the cholesterol level in our blood streams, by helping to reduce it. Monounsaturated fats are an important part of our diets. These oils act to keep cholesterol from sticking to our artery walls, and thus combating against diseases such as heart disease and strokes. Not only that, but they help to control blood sugar, a big plus in offering protection against Diabetes.


Ø Olives are also very light foods (ie contain low calories), but at the same time very filling; being able to quickly satisfy hunger. and lead to fewer total calories ingested at mealtime.

Ø The Zaytun oil can also be used on hands, hair and as a base for massage oil.
Used as a balm, it fortifies the hair. It keeps the hair shiny and prevents dandruff.

Ø Used as a balm, it fortifies and moisturizes the skin, combating dry skin and softening it. It also combats against acne.

Ø Massaged onto the body, Olives fortify the limbs, combat against inflammation, and sooth away aches and pains from tired muscles and so on.

Ø Help against wrinkles and delaying the effects of old age.

Ø Help combat against strokes, heart-disease, High blood pressure, diabetes.

Ø It aids digestion and strengthens the bowels, as well as the stomach. Soothes Pain

Ø Drunk, the tea from Olive leaves help against High blood pressure.

Ø The decoction of olive leaves in water is effective against mouth and lip ulcers and allergic dermatitis also.

Ø The concentrated aqueous extract of olive leaves and fruits is very effective against dental cavities and application of this solution shows very good effects on Leukoplaquea in mouth.

Ø This solution is applied with vinegar on Alopecia, grows the hair and removes the Alopecia.

Ø It is also stated that the local application of this extract removes the scars of small pox and boils.

Ø The powder of seeds mixed with butter is effective in brittle nails.

Ø The pickles prepared from olive fruits is a good appetizer and removes constipation.

Ø The smashed leaves are applied locally to check excessive perspiration.

Ø The water extracted from the leaves with honey is used as eardrops and effective in various ear ailments.

Ø The oil procured by burning of olive wood is effective against all fungal infection viz a viz, Ringworm, T.versicolor etc. in addition to Eczema, Psoriasis, Dandruff and Alopecia.

Ø The local application of olive oil on scalp is highly effective against dandruff. It grows the hairs and checks, the loss of hair.

Ø The application of olive oil in eyes relieves the inflammation.

Ø The massage of olive oil over the body tones up the muscles and organs, it relieves muscular pains.

Ø Some physicians also advocate the massage of olive oil for epilepsy.

Ø It relieves the Sciatic and arthritis.

Ø The ointments prepared from olive oil are very good healing agents. It heals the sinus and fistula very quickly. 25ml of olive oil mixed with 250ml of barley water, if taken internally, is highly effective against chronic constipation.

Ø It is a good Diuretic, hence is used in Ascites.

Ø It also removes the kidney stones.

Ø A conventional regimen is also available comprising of olive oil and other herbal rugs having potential against the Gall bladder stones. It is stated that this regimen dissolves and expels the Gall bladder stone.
 
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This is probably one of the most educational threads on this forum....

Keep it up, this is what this forum is for ... educating one another so that we can learn and teach others.
 
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Govt to spend Rs 280m for plantation of olive sapling

April 23, 2018

LAHORE - The Punjab government under a five-year (2015-2020) plan, has arranged plantation of over 900,000 olive saplings in Potohar Region which has been declared 'Olive valley' and the government was on schedule in its target of planting two million olive saplings till 2020.

Talking to APP, Barani Agriculture Research Institute (BARI) Director Dr Muhammad Tariq said that the olive saplings are provided free of cost to the eligible farmers of the region including Rawalpindi, Chakwal, Jhelum, Attock and Khushab districts. The programme was launched on the directives of Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif aimed at promoting local production of olive oil and curtailing import bill of edible oil sector, he added.

The growers are offered subsidy in accordance with the set rules and procedure and they are bound to fully comply with the recommendations of the Provincial Agriculture Department. He said for the purpose the Punjab Agriculture Department had imported high quality saplings from best recognized countries for the production of olive.

The eligibility criteria for the grant of free olive saplings extends to those farmers belonging to the region, who possess sufficient irrigation resources for the maintenance of an olive orchard, or who aspire to avail the 70 percent subsidy available, to manage irrigation resources. If the grower opts to establish a drip irrigation system, then the applicant shall be eligible to avail a 60 per cent subsidy.

"The area of Potohar region has suitable climatic conditions for olive cultivation as presence of wild olives at large area was already in the region. That's why the government decided to turn Potohar into olive valley," he said.

He further elaborated that olive is an environmental friendly plant and it also does not take the area of other crops. "An olive tree starts production after three to four years of its plantation while its productive age lasts for a long period", revealed Dr Mohammad Tariq.

"If we only utilise one third of our available area for olive cultivation, we would not only stop the import of edible oil rather but could become one of the largest olive oil producers", he said.

"Total world production of olive oil is 2.75 million tons and only one-third of Chakwal's cultivated area can produce 2 per cent of world olive oil that is 55,000 tons", he informed. Trees of olive laden with fruits at BARI are the proof that Potohar can be turned into "olive valley" easily. BARI has imported a machine from Italy to extract olive oil.

To stop Pakistan's import of edible oil, 2.37m hectares area is required for olive cultivation and for this task a hefty amount of budget is also needed.

A single plant of olive yields 15 to 35 kg
as it depends upon varieties, ecosystem and care while oil content remains 18 to 22 percent. "250 plants can be cultivated on a hectare and we can get 600 litres of olive oil from one hectare", maintained Dr. Tariq. The price of olive oil is Rs 500 per litre and a farmer can earn Rs 300,000 by growing olive on a hectare.

Interestingly, the pickle of olive can give a huge profit to its producer as a farmer can earns Rs 1176,000 by preparing 4,000kg of pickle from one hectare. "The economic return of olive is very high and its cultivation can bring a revolution in the lives of poor farmers", Dr. Tariq said.

He further informed that olive demands less care than that of other crops and its harvesting is also easy than that of other crops. The demand of olive oil is increasing day by day as it has great medicinal value, he added.
 
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We as a nation needs to add olive and it's products in our diet, purely because of its health benefits. I never have a meal without olives. It's good to know that now they are being produced locally in Pakistan.

My personal favourite is Greek Halkithiki specially when marinated and stuffed with garlic or jalapeño.
 
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No mention of Bahawalpur region which has large desert area, i belong to a farming background and was born and brought up in Rahim Yar Khan, we have a reasonably big house (8 kanals) in comparison to the small sizes in the urban areas now adays, we have variety of fruit and flower plants at our house including pomegranate, karonda fruit, Tamarind, mango, indian jujube(beri), Syzygium cumini (jamun) etc, we planted an olive tree as well and it grew like a monster and producing fruit as well this was a big surprise to me and a proof that olive could be successfully planted in Rahim Yar Khan.
 
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It has been recently reported that the government is trying to convert Chakwal valley into an olive valley. For this purpose, two million olive plants will be distributed in Punjab over the next five years while an olive oil preparing factory is already functional in the region.

Pakistan’s water starved economy is dependent on water intensive crops such as sugarcane and rice (for more information read “Water scarcity and agri-export woes”, published on June 19, 2018). Olive trees are hardy plants with roots so extensive and strong that in time of drought they can survive by drawing water from deep within the earth. They are also able to produce olives for hundreds of years enabling the return on investment for setting up olive trees to be reasonably high and sustainable.

A report by SMEDA estimates that on average, an olive plant produces 20 to 35 kg of fruit per year which contain more than 12 percent oil content. Olives can be sold at the rate of Rs.73 per kg and oil can be sold at Rs. 500 per litre. Estimates suggest that the current there are 8 million wild olive trees present in different provinces, which if drafted and converted for olive production could present a potential of earning of $1 billion annually.

Since an olive plant requires at least 5 years before it can start bearing fruit, it is not feasible for farmers to opt for olive trees on their own. To promote its cultivation, the Punjab government has given a 70 percent subsidy on watering and cultivation and a 60 percent subsidy on installation of drip irrigation systems. The agricultural department has also promised to purchase olives so that farmers can sell their produce immediately.

However, this is not the first time an attempt has been made to create an olive valley. In 2016, Punjab government tried to create an olive valley in Potahar over 15,000 acres of land with a project cost of Rs 2.8 billion. Similarly, Pakistan Economic Survey FY18 lists olive forests in Punjab as part of its Green Pakistan Program, which is an initiative to revive forestry and wildlife resources to make the country more environmentally resilient. However, there has been little evidence of progress or results.

Though the government is providing some support for olive production, it also provides more lucrative assistance to main stream crops such as rice, sugar, wheat and cotton in the form of support prices and subsidies. There is little incentive for farmers to shift to the more prudent, profitable and long term sustainable production of olives. Yet, this shift needs to be made at least in part to decrease pressure on Pakistan’s water resources, decrease the edible oil import bill and tap into the lucrative Middle Eastern market that has high olive oil demand.
 
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