Through technical support and stakeholder training, the Olive Culture Holistic and Multi-Professional Mechanism for a Pakistani Olive Oil Value Chain Project, sponsored by the Italian government, seeks to increase olive oil output and improve food security in Pakistan.
The Ministry of National Food Security and Research hosted a meeting of the project’s steering committee. The conference was co-chaired by the National Food Security and Research Secretary, Zafar Hasan, and the Italian ambassador to Pakistan, Andreas Ferrarese.
The project, which started in March 2022, aimed to create a multi-professional value chain for olives and olive oil in Pakistan in order to increase olive production and enhance food security through technical support and stakeholder training.
Through the International Centre for Advanced Mediterranean Agronomic Studies (CIHEAM-Bari), Italy, the Italian Agency for International Cooperation, the Pakistan Oilseed Department, and the Ministry of National Food Security and Research, the governments of Pakistan and Italy are working together to carry out the project, which has a budget of €1.5 million.
The secretary noted that this initiative would assist to replace the import of edible olive oil, which the nation now does each year with its limited foreign reserves. He hoped that the initiative will be expanded and carried out by the private sector.
The Italian envoy stated that Italy will continue to promote Pakistan’s olive industry and that Pakistan has a big potential for olives.
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