Olive is a tree with endless history. From some olive tree pieces and seeds discovered in Spain it was recognized that olives existed from the XII millennium B.C. In the book of Genesis (Old Testament) we read that it was an olive twig that Noah's dove took back to the Ark ( a ship) after the deluge (great flood). Tn the Greek Mythology, in a game between Athena and Poseidone, God Zeus originated a new tree "the olive" to premiate Athena. This tree was regarded as a holy plant to symbolize peace and abundance. Olive was believed to be originated in Pamir and Turkestan. It slowly occupied lands from East to West crossing Armenia and entering into the Mediterranean region. In this region, olive received maximum importance and started cultivating from 6,000 years ago. During the Roman empire some famous experts prepared an olive-oil classification: Oleum ex albis ulivis (this could be compared to the extra virgin olive-oil available in these days) and viride, maturum, caducum, cibarium ( to be considered olive-oils of secondary importance). During the Renaissance period olives received again great importance. With the discovery of America in 492 olive trees from Europe reached Antille and consequently
the American continent. By the 16th century olives are already in Mexico, Peru,
California, Chile and Argentina where it is possible to find famous Arauco's olive even today. Recently, olive has started to influence other areas of the World such as South Africa, Angola, Australia, China, and others. Its production extended even to a geographic area with monsoon characteristics that was considered unsuitable few years ago.
In pre-himalaya regions of Northern Pakistan, Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh
(H.P.) and Uttar Pradesh of India, and Nepal, olive cultivation is being studied. Some significant results have been obtained for possibilities to exploit olive production. Olive is known as "Jaitoon" in Sanskrit, Arabic, Hindi, and Nepali . Olea cuspidata is a species locally known as "Lotto" in Dolpa and "Launtho" in Bajura districts of Nepal and "Kahu" in Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, Uttar Pradesh States of India.
In Pakistan and India the cultivated olives (Olea europaea L.) were introduced in fifties as evidenced by the existing plantations in Mingora (SWAT), Rawalpindi, and Pinjore in India, where olive cultivation started 40 years ago. The first olive orchard was established at Jidhari in Solan District by the efforts of Maharaja Patiala's Family. In sixties and seventies, the H.P.
government established olive plantations and launched a top-working programme of Olea europaea with Olea cuspidata. Technical Cooperation Programme of FAO/UNDP was launched to provide necessary technical support from 1975 for several years. With the Bilateral Agreement between Indian and Italian Governments from 1984 to 1993, India has extended commercial olive plantation activities and olive oil industries in Himachal, Jammu and Uttar Pradesh.
#OliveOil
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Publisher:
GoN, FAO
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(1999
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Type / Script:
Bulletin or Poster
in English
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Keywords:
OLIVES, CROPS, OLIVE OIL, FOOD, PLANTS, AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS, AGRICULTURE, HORTICULTURE, SERICULTURE, SUBSISTENCE FARMING, SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE, CLIMATE, ATMOSPHERIC TEMPERATURE, CLIMATE CHANGE, CLIMATIC ZONES, HUMIDITY, PRECIPITATION, WEATHER
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Thematic Group: FAO
:
Food and Agriculture Organization
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Thesaurus:
04.01.01
- Agricultural Economics And Policy; Rural Sociology
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Reference Link:
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