We all find olives in our favourite food items, be it pizza, pasta or a subway sandwich but have we ever wondered where this olive comes from and what are its benefit?
We are here to clear that out for you, olives like any other vegetable comes from the farm. It originated from Africa but it is now grown in India as well with its largest supplier being the state most of us could have not guessed right Rajasthan!
Yes, Rajasthan cultivates the most amount of olives for this nation. As olive is a very hardy crop and can sustain the temperature variation from -5 to 48 degree celsius. Thus it has the potential to be grown in an arid region like Rajasthan.
The project on olive cultivation was started in the year 2006 and subsequently Rajasthan Olive Cultivation Limited was formed in 2007.
There is about 800 hectares of region devoted for olive cultivation out of which 182 hectares is undertaken by ROCL on government farms in different agro-climatic regions namely Sri Gangapur, Nagpur, Bikaner, Jalore, Jhunjhunu, Alwar, Jaipur etc.
These farms have hi-tech control for fertigation pH, EC roots, EC drippers through Agro-Agronam controllers.
These farmers practice machine based drip irrigation while everything else is manually executed. Through the guidance of Israel based scientists and researchers we have been successful in selecting & planting 7 leading varieties of olives i.e., Barnea, Arbequina, Cortina, Picholine, Picual, Korinoiki & Frontoy.
The edible olive oil has been cultivated for at least 5000 to 6000 years ago and olives has been carrying these beneficial qualities ever since. Olives have been an essential part of the staple diet of Mediterranean people and have benefited them in many ways.
They help in reducing the risk of coronary heart disease, the prevention of cancer and alternation of immune & inflammatory responses.
With this and many other health advantages olives can without any doubt be considered a healthy crop which travels from the square farms of Rajasthan to our square tables, in a square pizza box capable of both winning & saving our hearts.
