Now, olive oil made in Gujarat

AHMEDABAD: Just as the grapes ofNashik have redefined the wine industry in India, olives being grown in anursery in north Gujarat could do the same for the edible oilindustry.The Gujarat government believes these little green bulbs have the potential to change the fortunes of farmers, given the growing demand for the healthier oil. It has funded a pilot project to grow olive trees in the state. Sardarkrushinagar Dantiwada Agricultural University (SDAU) has tied up with Israeli company Asia Everest Limited (AEL) for the project. This is the first attempt to grow olives in the country on alarge-scale. At present, the entire demand for all olive products is met byMediterranean countries.The Israeli firm, owned by non-residentGujarati Zeev Muliashia, has supplied 84,000 saplings of four easternMediterranean varieties of olives. “We will buy back olive seed yield atinternational rates and set up a processing plant in Gujarat in the next 18months to showcase processing of olive oil and other value addedproducts,” said Muliashia.SDAU’s saplings will betransplanted in the field at different places during monsoon this year.“We have already earmarked 400 acres at five locations for theproject,” said Dr SBS Tikka, director of research at SDAU. “We willgrow the Barnia, Corotina, Manzellina and Pichulin varieties, which need a hotclimate to produce quality fruits,” said Tikka.Demand for olive oil is growing at 30 per cent in India every year. International Olive Council says the strong economy and global exposure of Indians in the last decade has given an impetus to olive oil consumption.The Indianolive oil market, pegged at Rs 52 crore till 2006, is expected to touch Rs 200crore by 2011 end. Spanish companies control about 60 per cent of the marketshare at present. The demand is estimated to touch 42,000 tonnes in 2012 asconsumption will be fed by an increasingly affluent consumer class and itsobsession with nutritious food.