Gigantic projects under "Green, Sweet, Fruits for All" program proposed in budget 2021-22.

PESHAWAR -- Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Forest Department has proposed gigantic projects under "Green, Clean and Fruits for All" Program in budget 2021-22 to bolster afforestation, olives farming and beekeeping in the province.

Gulzar Rehman, Conservator South, Forest Department told reporter on Sunday that Forest Department was going to another offshoot i.e. 'Green, Sweet and Fruits for All' under which olive and indigenous bees flora plants including berry and palosa would be planted in order to promote api-culture, horticulture and fruiti-culture industries.

He said about 70 million wild olives plants have been discovered in KP including 35 million in merged areas. Approximately,15 million discovered in South Waziristan, six million in Kurrum, four million in Orakzai, 3.450 million in Bajaur, 1.5 million each in North Waziristan, Kohat, 1.2 million in Mohmand, one million in Khyber, six lac each in Dera Ismail Khan and Tank, eight lac in ex FR Peshawar and two lac each in Bannu and Lakki Marwat.

The Conservator said about 40 million healthy olives mostly of Italian and Spanish varieties keeping in view of it's high production ratio per acre and climate resistance would be planted and grafting in another 40 million would be made as joint venture project with Agriculture Department in next five years.

Olive trees and fruits plants plantation were made part of 10BTAP for the first time after its inauguration by Prime Minister at Azakhel Nowshera on March 15 last to generate employment opportunities, allievate poverty and combat climate change challenges.

All the seven tribal districts of erstwhile Fata, Suleiman Mountains near Waziristan, West Bank of River Indus and KP is declared most suitable for commercial olive cultivation.

He said several new projects were proposed for ADP 2021-22, focusing on promotion of urban and farms forestry, afforstration and bringing vast unproductive lands of merged areas under forests.

Focus would be made on promotion of farms and urban forestry besides establishment of forest enclosures in hilly and accessible areas in merged areas where about 3,000 enclosures are being established to achieve the set target of plantation of additional one billion trees by 2023.

"We have adopted a three pronged strategy to carry out whopping afforstration in empty and unutalized lands, parks, graveyards, roads, highways, motorways and canal sides under urban forestry program to counterbalance the growing effects of environmental...