In the parched plains of southern Punjab, where wheat and cotton once dominated, a new hope is quietly taking root, in olive cultivation.

With its climate-resilient characteristics and high market value, the olive crop is drawing increasing attention from both farmers and policymakers. Yet, the region’s vast olive potential remains largely untapped; it is constrained by systemic gaps and fragmented efforts.

Districts like Dera Ghazi Khan, Rajanpur, Layyah, Multan and Bahawalpur offer an ideal environment for olive farming. With semi-arid conditions, abundant sunlight, and well-drained soils, olive trees known for their drought tolerance may thrive where traditional crops are increasingly unsustainable.

We have seen first-hand that olives grow well in this climate. “I have planted 100 trees on my land, and they’ve survived two drought seasons,” says Rasheed Ahmed, a farmer from Fazilpur, Rajanpur, who recently transitioned from wheat to olives with the help of an agriculture........

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