MUZAFFARABAD, Wednesday, April 8, 2026 (WNP): Local farmers in Muzaffarabad are increasingly turning their olive harvest into sustainable income, as an Olive Oil Production Unit established with the support of Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency, marking a significant step towards agricultural value addition in Azad Jammu and Kashmir.
The initiative is transforming lives at the grassroots level, particularly for small-scale farmers like Zahida Bibi, who owns four kanals of land with around 50 olive trees. Sharing her experience, she said her entire produce is processed into oil, enabling her to earn a stable income.
“I sell olive oil at around Rs5,000 per kilogram, and my total earnings exceed Rs50,000,” she said, encouraging others to adopt agriculture as a reliable livelihood. “If there are no jobs, people should turn to farming — it is the best option,” she added.
Officials from the Agriculture Department highlighted the growing importance of olive farming in the region. Aghlam Murtaza Gilani said olive cultivation, once limited in scope, has now evolved into a major industry.
“We have distributed nearly 300,000 olive plants on subsidy and helped establish orchards, promoting olive as a viable economic crop,” he said.
He emphasized that high-quality olive oil depends on timely processing, adding that olives must reach extraction units within 24 hours to ensure premium output.
Another official, Amina Rafi, said the olive oil extraction unit was installed in December 2024 with TİKA’s cooperation, significantly easing challenges faced by local farmers. “Previously, farmers had to transport their produce to far-off areas in Pakistan for oil extraction, which was both difficult and costly. This facility has resolved that issue,” she said.
The establishment of the local extraction unit is not only reducing logistical burdens but also enhancing the quality and market value of olive oil produced in the region, paving the way for economic uplift and rural development.
The initiative reflects a broader message for communities: sustain agriculture, enhance production, and keep the land alive.
