Pakistan's growing olive oil industry brings much-needed jobs and Olive Farming, and Olive Oil Production | Comprehensive Olive Cultivation Guide

High in the Hindu-Kush mountains near the Afghan border, these trees are slowly changing lives in Bajor district. Alone, there are millions of wild olive trees, and with some old signs and new interests, they're being grafted or joined with modern varieties. These mostly European types of olives produce more quantity and better quality olive oil. In three to five years, the new variant of wild trees becomes a source of revenue for local tribesmen who've had very few prospects in these remote areas of Pakistan.

Bajur is one of the poorest districts, and many people migrate to larger cities to look for jobs. The rugged terrain is unforgiving for most crops, but Israel has been able to successfully graft 10,000 wild trees in just over 10 years. He's written books to educate farmers and also established a small nursery to help others around him improve their livelihoods.

Many of the people who turned towards militancy did so because there are no jobs, no opportunities here. We are blessed with god-given resources, and if the government takes serious steps, we can have enough work here that people from other countries would come to us. Economists believe locally produced oil can bring financial relief to the country, as Pakistanis consume an estimated 24 kilograms of oil every year.

Olives are not just providing opportunities but are also meant to bring down the import bill of a cash-strapped economy and enable plantation in areas where there is very little water. Government nurseries give out saplings and seeds to promote olive farming, but critics say these initiatives lack awareness, have insufficient facilities, and mostly rely on imported seeds.

The wild olive tree project offers more. "Our main focus for the olive plantations is the marginalized lands, especially the tribal areas like Bajawar, North and South Waziristan. These were militancy-hit areas where people were jobless and faced extreme poverty. But now this olive initiative will bring prosperity to their lives," the minister says.

Homegrown olive cultivation and production will save three billion dollars a year on imports, the minister claims. It could also help repay some of the hundred million dollar debt between Pakistan and Italy. In recent years, nine million trees have been planted. Pakistan has eight million acres available for olive trees, larger than Spain, the largest producer of olive oil.

Government officials, environmentalists, and farmers agree on the positive impact growing olives can have on the economy, deforestation, and jobs. Yet, Pakistan still spends billions of dollars a year to import commodities which can potentially be produced at home.

Olive farming is the practice of growing olives for their fruit which is used to produce olive oil, a valuable culinary and cosmetic product. Olives are a hardy crop that can be grown in a variety of climates but they thrive in warm dry regions with well-drained soil.

Choose the right location: The first step in olive farming is to choose the right location. Olive trees need full sun and well-drained soil. They are also susceptible to cold so they should be planted in areas that do not experience frost.

Prepare the soil: Before planting olive trees, the soil should be prepared by tilling it to a depth of 12 to 18 inches. The soil should also be amended with organic matter such as compost or manure.

Plant the trees: Olive trees should be planted in the spring or fall. The spacing between trees will depend on the variety of olive tree and the desired yield. For example, a table olive variety might be planted 15 to 20 feet apart while an oil olive variety might be planted 25 to 30 feet apart.

Water the trees: Olive trees need regular water, especially during their first year in the ground. Once they are established, they can tolerate some drought, but they will produce better yields if they are watered regularly.

Fertilize the trees: Olive trees should be fertilized every year in the spring with a balanced fertilizer at a rate of one to two pounds per tree.

Prune the trees: Olive trees should be pruned every year to maintain their shape and to remove dead or diseased branches. Pruning should be done in the winter when the trees are dormant.

Harvest the olives: Olives are harvested in the fall when they are ripe. There are two main methods of harvesting olives: hand-picking and machine harvesting.

Process the olives: Once the olives are harvested, they must be processed to produce olive oil. The processing method will depend on the desired end product. For example, table olives are typically cured in brine while all olives are crushed and the oil is extracted.