SOUTH WAZIRISTAN: In a significant development for the farmers of Wana, South Waziristan Lower, an olive oil extraction machine was inaugurated on Saturday at the Agriculture Office Wana. The machine was installed with the support of the South Waziristan Lower Agriculture Department and was inaugurated by Deputy Commissioner Nasir Khan.
Deputy Commissioner Nasir Khan expressed his views during the opening ceremony, stating that the installation of the machine will greatly benefit the farmers and further encourage them to invest in this sector.
He also mentioned that the machine can be operated by a generator and other power sources, and steps will be taken soon for its solarization to maximize its benefits.
Agriculture Officer Habib Ur Rehman Wazir stated that the recent season is likely to produce 10,000 liters of olive oil, which is a welcome development. He further stated that farmers associated with olive groves will now have access to facilities at their doorstep, which are available in other districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.
He said the two tribal districts, Lower South Waziristan and Upper South Waziristan, have several lakhs of olives, generating income worth crores of rupees annually.
Local farmers have shifted their focus to planting olive groves due to climate change, as it not only increases income but also has lower costs compared to other fruit trees.
This development is expected to boost the production of olive oil in the region, and the solarization of the machine will ensure maximum benefit for the farmers. The inauguration of the olive oil extraction machine is a significant step towards promoting olive cultivation and production in the area.
