Rajasthan started the country’s first olive oil refinery and expressed hope that it would be able to fulfill the country’s demand of olive oil in coming years.
Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje inaugurated the first olive oil refinery set up with a cost of Rs. 3.75 crore in Lunkaransar area.
The state started cultivation of olive in 2007 under olive cultivation project that was launched during the previous tenure of Vasundhara Raje as the Chief Minister of the state. The project was started by taking assistance of Israel and planted 1.12 lakh saplings in 7 agro-climatic zones.
The olive oil produced in the refinery will be marked under the brand name of ‘Raj Olive Oil’ and will be available in markets after some time.
At present, Olive has been planted in 282 hectare land in districts like Jhunjhunu, Nagaur, Bikaner and other districts of the state.
Seven leading varieties of Barnea, Arbequina, Crotina, Picholine, Picual, Coraniki and Frontoy have been planted in the farms.
Olive is a small tree belonging to the Oleaceae family and is found in coastal areas of eastern Mediterranean (Italy and Spain), northern Iraq and northern Iran south of the Caspian Sea.
