RASHT Some one million hectares of idle lands in the country are being converted to olive groves, the official in charge of olive plantation said here on Wednesday. Ahmad Lazemi-Zadeh further told reporters that the national plan, approved by Majlis, would be carried out in three phases. Stating that four-five tons of olives are obtained from each hectare of the land, Lazemi-Zadeh added that each hectare of olive groves would yield some one ton of pure oil.

Some three million olive saplings, produced in Gilan Province this year (ends March 20), have already been distributed amongst olive growers across the country. The official further stated that in line with the program to expand olive plantations, some eight-ten million olive saplings would be produced in the country next year. The government is also planning to cede two-three hectares of lands to each grower, Lazemi-Zadeh said, adding that central parts of Zagros and Lorestan Province, Ilam, Kermanshah, Fars, Kohkilouyeh-Boyerahmad, Kerman and Yazd are suitable for olive plantation.

The official predicted that by the year 2022, Iranian olive production would exceed its domestic needs, and thus the country can become an exporter of olive oil. Besides creating jobs and being a source of foreign exchange revenues, olive plantation can help slow down soil erosion specially in sloped lands, Lazemi-Zadeh said in conclusion. (IRNA)