INDIGENIZATION OF SMALL-SCALE OLIVE OIL EXTRACTION PLANT
Olive oil production in Pakistan is inadequate to
meet domestic demand and is being imported from Europe and Middle East for local
consumption. Strenuous research efforts are underway to increase olive oil
production in the country. Keeping in view the pace of research efforts on the
particular crop, Agricultural & Biological Engineering Institute (ABEI) of
Pakistan Agricultural Research Council (PARC) is working on the introduction of
a small-scale olive oil extraction technology at community level, which will
ultimately help the medium and small size olive growers to get their olive fruit
processed at low cost.
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Technical specifications of the olive oil extraction
unit have been finalized by the PARC scientists and are ready to manufacture a
prototype machine for detailed testing and evaluation. Under the Directorate of
Agribusiness and Marketing PARC has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU)
with M/s Technology International, Faisalabad on June 22, 2010 for development
and indigenization of the adapted olive oil extraction unit. The designed unit
will be suitable for community based olive oil extraction facility besides
processing of individual farmer’s olive production for his domestic edible oil
needs. Total operational cost has been estimated at Rs. 9.25 per kg of fresh
fruit with the quality of oil extracted as extra virgin.
Domestic manufacturing and availability of low cost olive oil extractor will yield following benefits to the national economy:
Encourage domestic plantation of olive and production thereof;
Availability of good quality olive oil at comparatively low price;
Reduce fruit losses due to timely availability of small-scale olive oil extraction facility;
Provide business opportunities to the local oil extraction machinery manufacturing industry;
Create job opportunities for the farming community; and
Enhance labour productivity and encourage community level olive oil extraction for promotion of extra virgin (chemical free) olive oil in the country.
The developed technology will be promoted in olive growing northern areas of Khyber Pukhtoonkhwa and Pothwar region of Punjab.
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