Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Minister for Agriculture, Arbab Mohammad Ayub Jan has said that for the alleviation of poverty, arresting of unemployment and bringing economic revolution, the provincial government beside increasing the production of seasonal and off-seasonal vegetables has planned the plantation of maximum fruit orchards in Malakand, Hazara and Peshawar divisions.
Talking to a delegation of farmers, he said that the implementation of the plan will start from next month.
The provincial minister said that the land and environment of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa are very suitable for production of fruit. Therefore, he said that maximum fruit orchards will be planned in Malakand division while special planning is also made for the export of fruits to international market.
He said that with the assistance of the government of Italy two big fruit storages will be established in Matta and Kabal of district Swat. He further said that grading of export oriented fruit will be carried out in Malakand. He said that fruit products related factories will be established in Malakand.
Arbab Ayub said that for getting self-sufficiency in edible oil, the government is working on a plan of planting maximum olive plants. Under the project, he said every farmer will be provided 0.1 million free olive plants.