Pakistan's olive cultivation drive expands to 60 districts under PSDP project

September 23, 2026 (MLN):  Pakistan's olive cultivation drive has expanded to 60 districts under the PSDP Olive Project, engaging 12,000 farmers as the country builds a farm-to-fork value chain spanning cultivation, processing, quality control and value addition.

According to official documents available with Wealth Pakistan, more than 7.5mn olive trees have been planted nationwide over around 60,400 acres under federal, provincial and international development programmes, of which 66%, or 5mn trees, were planted under the PSDP Olive Project alone, APP reported.

Another 6,594 acres of olive groves have been equipped with water-saving irrigation systems to improve water-use efficiency.

The documents show Pakistan holds more than 4mn hectares of potential olive plantation area, alongside millions of wild olive trees, with defined growing clusters developed across zones and 22 olive varieties approved for cultivation.

Having initially relied on sapling imports from Mediterranean countries, Pakistan shifted to domestic propagation of olive plants since 2022, helping save foreign exchange through public-private partnerships and targeted capacity building.

Human resource development has formed a major part of the initiative, with 276 capacity-building programmes covering orchard and nursery management, post-harvest handling, Good Agricultural Practices, Good Manufacturing Practices, oil extraction and value addition benefiting 17,986 stakeholders nationwide. More than 36 publications on the olive value chain have also been developed, alongside project websites, educational YouTube channels and an interactive dashboard for stakeholder awareness.

The sector has expanded into entrepreneurship as well, with more than 100 entrepreneurs now engaged in olive oil and value-added products, including pickles, jams, cosmetics, soaps and nutraceuticals under individual brands. Pakistan has already received international recognition for quality through the award-winning "LO-Loralai Olives," as the country works to maintain standards that support future exports.

The documents said the decade-long national olive cultivation programme, spearheaded by the Ministry of National Food Security and Research, has helped turn barren lands into productive orchards while contributing to a more resilient and sustainable olive ecosystem.

FAOSTAT data cited in the documents point to a promising trend, with olive oil imports declining significantly even as exports have risen over the same period.

Economic modelling suggests that 10 years after completion of the project covering 33,000 acres, the sector will contribute Rs7.6bn annually to the national economy, with benefits continuing for more than a century under sustained quality standards and farm-to-fork practices.

The documents also identify carbon sequestration, climate resilience and improved public health including potential reductions in future healthcare expenditure among the wider benefits of olive-sector development.

Pakistan has been granted permanent status in the International Olive Council, while a national olive policy and action plan has been formulated.

The Olive Policy has been approved by the cabinet and officially launched by the Prime Minister, providing a framework for sustainable growth and regulation of the industry, with emphasis on enhancing agricultural productivity, promoting value addition and reducing dependence on imported edible oils.

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