ABBOTTABAD: Although Pakistan is not a large producer of olive oil, over the last two decades, the cultivation of olives in select areas of Punjab, Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), and KPK has resulted in a rapid increase in olive oil output.
Hazara Division is one of the best suitable places for olive plantings, with hundreds of formers drawn in and beginning to graft olives on a local breed known as “Kaho”. Within two to three years, they began to yield, which has increased manyfold with each passing year.
More than 1000 hectares of land are dedicated to olive plants in the Hazara division, stretching from Haripur to Battagram, and this area is growing year after year.
Sabir Sultan, a competent farmer and olive cultivation specialist from Abbottabad, has revealed his extraordinary experience of reshaping the agricultural environment of Hazara Division over the last 13 years. His ability in olive grafting has resulted in not only the growth of olive trees, but also a significant increase in edible oil production.
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Drawing on worldwide expertise, he dedicated himself to transforming olive production practices in his native region.
Sultan revealed that the combined efforts of 52,000 people effectively facilitated olive grafting on local-breed Kaho trees in various places, with an additional 50,000 individual grafts. He stated that the yield from 200 kilograms of olives equals an amazing 15 kilograms of high-quality edible oil, demonstrating the economic viability of olive growing.
