Pakistan’s federal government has approved a programme that will dispatch one‑hundred recent agricultural graduates to Italy for specialised training in olive cultivation, processing and value‑addition, an initiative unveiled on 25 August 2026 as part of a broader push to modernise the country’s nascent olive sector and create skilled jobs for young professionals.
The selected trainees will spend several weeks on Italian olive farms and research centres, where they will receive hands‑on instruction in contemporary orchard management, mechanised harvesting, integrated pest‑management, post‑harvest handling and the production of premium olive oil. The curriculum also covers market‑linkage strategies, certification standards and entrepreneurship, aiming to equip participants with the expertise needed to introduce modern practices back home.
The scheme stems from a renewed Pakistan‑Italy agricultural cooperation framework signed earlier this year, under which both governments agreed to facilitate technology transfer and capacity‑building in high‑potential crops. Funding for travel, accommodation and training fees will be borne by the Pakistani state, while Italian partners—including the Ministry of Agricultural, Food and Forestry Policies and several leading olive‑growing cooperatives—have pledged technical support and mentorship.
Pakistan’s olive industry, though relatively small compared to its wheat and cotton sectors, has been identified as a viable avenue for diversification and climate‑resilient farming. According to the Ministry of National Food Security & Research, domestic olive production currently meets only about 10 percent of national demand, with the shortfall largely filled by imports of olive oil. By upgrading the skill set of a new generation of agronomists, the government hopes to boost yields, improve oil quality and stimulate local processing, which could translate into reduced import bills and new export opportunities.
If successful, the trained cohort is expected to serve as catalysts for pilot projects across key olive‑producing districts such as Swabi, Sargodha and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, where suitable Mediterranean‑climate micro‑zones exist. Their involvement could also encourage private investment in modern irrigation, cold‑storage facilities and small‑scale oil mills, thereby generating employment for rural youth and contributing to the broader objective of agrarian transformation outlined in the country’s Vision 2025 plan.