PESHAWAR
Governor Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Haji Ghulam Ali Saturday visited Agricultural Research Institute Tarnab Farm Peshawar and inaugurated the Olive Festival besides inspecting the Agricultural Commodity stalls setup on this occasion.
During his visit, Governor Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Haji Ghulam Ali also made a big announcement for the farmers of the southern districts by providing an Olive Oil Producing Machine on his behalf in order to ensure export of Olive Oil.
Soon after the announcement by the Governor of providing Olive Oil Producing Machine to farmers, the jubilant farmers not only lauded the step taken by the Governor on his behalf besides paying tribute to the Governor for the farmer-friendly announcement.
Speaking on this occasion, Governor KP Haji Ghulam Ali besides his announcement, urged the farmers and all agriculture sectors to keep researching methodology in order to progress in the field of farming.
Governor Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Haji Ghulam Ali said that the production of Olives will not only lead to an increase in the country’s foreign exchange, but will also lead to the economic development of farmers, employment opportunities and the eradication of poverty.
The importance becomes clear. There is a need for research in all agricultural sectors including Olive in the province. He also lauded the holding of Olive Gala at Agricultural Research Institute Tarnab Farm Peshawar. During this, the Governor also inspected various stalls of agricultural commodities at Tarnab Farm.
On this occasion, the Governor made a big announcement to the farmers of the southern districts of Olive production on the request of the KP Minister Abdul Halim Kasuria. Abdul Halim Kasuria, Secretary Agriculture Muhammad Asrar Khan and DG Research Dr. Abdul Bari said in their address that the current Governor is a public governor in the true sense and they are grateful to him for announcing the Olive Oil Extraction Machine (OOEM) for the farmers of the southern districts.
With this initiative of the Governor, the cultivation of Olives in the southern districts, especially in Waziristan, will be promoted more than before and now the farmers here will not have to go to remote areas of the province to extract oil from Olives. Italy and other donor agencies are providing a lot of support in olive farming in Pakistan and the Department of Agriculture is trying to play an important role in the promotion of olives and ensure the production of Olives in every region of the province.
Calling the Olive Festival important for the promotion of Olive cultivation in the province, Haji Ghulam Ali said, adding, “It will help in the promotion of Olive cultivation in the province.” Universities have to play their important role, the Governor said.
He said that our country spends 3.5 billion dollars’ worth of foreign exchange through Palm Oil. “If our farmers, students and the Department of Agriculture play their role in this regard, most of our people will not only be able to use Olive Oil, but more than 40% in the country and the province.
Diseases will also end and this will not only meet our domestic needs, but we will also be able to export Olive Oil, he said. Member of the National Assembly Nasir Khan Musazai, Provincial Ministers, Shafiullah Khan, Hamid Shah, representative of UNWF, Agriculture Secretary Mohammad Asrar Khan, National Project Director Olive Dr. Mohammad Tariq, Director General Research Dr. Abdul Bari, Maulana Amanullah Haqqani, Khaled Qar Chamkani and other relevant authorities and a large number of farmers were present.
At the end of the ceremony, the Governor also presented appreciation shields to the Secretary of Agriculture Department, other officers of the Agriculture Department and the officers serving in the Olive Department.
