Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has announced that 100 young agricultural graduates will be sent to Italy for advanced training in olive cultivation, processing, marketing and value chain development.
Speaking at the launch ceremony of the Pakistan National Olive Value Chain Policy, the prime minister said the graduates would receive modern training in key areas of the olive sector, including processing, marketing and value chain management.
He said olive oil is healthy in every respect and praised the efforts of farmers, researchers and exporters for setting a strong example in the olive sector.
The prime minister said provincial governments had supported farmers and expressed gratitude for their cooperation in promoting olive cultivation across the country.
He said olives are being cultivated on 60,000 acres and stressed that Pakistan must support farmers to bring about an agricultural revolution.
Shehbaz Sharif said Pakistan imports edible oil worth $4 billion annually and asked what greater service could be done than saving even $400 million through local production.
He said palm oil and sunflower cultivation should also be promoted to reduce the import bill.
The prime minister added that cooperation between Pakistan and Italy in agriculture, tractor manufacturing and other sectors is significant.
He said cooperation would be further expanded in olive production, value addition and modern processing.
He also said federal and provincial governments would work together to provide better facilities to farmers.
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