Islamabad: (Parliament Times) USAID- supported Center of Excellence for Olive Research and Training
(CEFORT) partnered with Pakistan Agricultural Research Council (PARC) and USAID Punjab
Enabling Environment Project (PEEP) for organizing seminar on sharing experiences on olive
sector development, at NARC Islamabad today. The Project Director "Promotion of Olive
Cultivation on Commercial Scale in Pakistan" Dr. Muhammad Tariq, Director General
Agriculture Dr. Abid Mehmood and BEE specialist USAID PEEP Mr. Asad Zahoor joined 60
olive sector stakeholders, researchers, entrepreneurs and expert on the occasion.
While addressing to the participants of the Seminar, Dr. Muhammad Tariq, Project
Director Olive said that "This Seminar has brought olive researchers, experts, farmers and
investors together to share experiences and enhance coordination for olive sector development in
Pakistan". The seminar has provided an effected opportunity to olive farmers, researchers and
olive related institutions to strengthen mutual linkages besides sharing experiences from across
the country. The activity will help stakeholders adopt a shared strategy for scientific research,
best olive farming practices and value addition. Dr. Tariq further added that the pace of olive
plantation and resources needs to be enhanced considerably and Precious foreign exchange could be
saved if olive cultivation is stepped up in Pakistan and the country begins processing its own olive oil to
help reduce oil imports.
Dr. Abid Mehmood, DG (Agriculture) also shared his views that the seminar has
provided participants with an opportunity to share their respected experiences related to olive
sector development in Pakistan.
