The Punjab Agriculture Department (PAD) has once again reminded the farmers to apply for establishing olive orchards on scientific lines by August 31, 2018 which will entitle them for getting free of cost olive plants and subsidy on drip irrigation.
The provincial government had planned to convert marginal land of Potohar region into productive olive groves. Under a project, Government of Punjab is providing 2 million olive plants free of cost to the farmers.
In this regard, applications have been invited from farmers of Chakwal, Attock, Jhelum, Rawalpindi, Khushab and Mianwali for establishing olive orchards on scientific lines. A spokesman of the department disclosed that under this project farmers will get olive plants of suitable high yielding varieties free of cost and also get 70 percent subsidy for water source development. 60 percent subsidy will also be provided for drip irrigation system installation at their farms. Government will also provide on-farm technical assistance free of cost.
Application form can be obtained from Barani Research Institute, Chakwal or local offices of Water Management offices of project based districts. Spokesman further said that application form can also be downloaded from official web www.barichakwal.agripunjab.gov.pk or www.barichakwal.org.
Farmers who have already applied need not to apply again. Pakistan is importing every year cost of Rs300 Billion edible oil. Under this project, Pakistan may able to lessen this import bill of our county and production of olive oil will be increased.