India’s first Olive Refinery

The country’s first olive refinery was inaugurated by State Chief Minister Ms. Vasundhara Raje at Lunkaransar in Bikaner. Oil produced in the facility will be marketed under the name of ‘Raj Olive Oil’. The refinery, set up at a cost of Rs. 3.75 crore, is based on Israeli technology. While commissioning the plant Raje said that, it is a great achievement for Rajasthan that it had became the first state in the country to have an olive refinery. She also said that, Rajasthan is leading in olive farming and now the crop will used most optimally. Raje in her previous tenure had commenced the olive cultivation project by taking assistance from Israel and had planted 1.12 lakh saplings in seven agro-climatic zones. At present, Nagaur, Sriganganagar, Alwar and Bikaner contributes to olive farming, covering areas of about 282 hectares. Government is planning to increase it up to 5,000 hectares. Rajasthan government is eyeing to meet all the domestic demand from the refinery in coming days.