Nangarhar olive processing factory machinery outdated

JALALABAD (Pajhwok): The machinery of olive processing factory in eastern Nangarhar province has been outdated and if not repaired the factory will stop functioning, an official said on Tuesday.

Atiqullah Nael, head of the olive processing factory, said if the machinery of the factory is not repaired it won’t be able to continue functioning.

He said in the past the factory produced from 20 tonnes to 25 tonnes of olive daily and even in one hour the factory processed 1,200 kilograms of olive but now its capacity dropped to 80 kilograms.

The said the lack of electricity, man power, necessary equipment and other problems hampered their work.

People working in the factory were happy with their work but still stressed over the increase in the number of worker.

Ameer Shah, one of the workers, said: “Our equipment are outdated, there is too much work and these two areas should be addressed to improve the overall function of the factory.”

Syed Humayon Gharibmal, Nangarhar Canal Department spokesperson, said few days back agriculture minister visited Nangarhar province and visited this factory. He pledged to resolve the problems faced by olive processing factory.

“It is right, some equipment and machinery is outdated, the ministry will strive to purchase new machinery and resolve other existing problems,” he added.

This factory was established five decades ago to process olive, at that time hundreds of people worked in the factory and its product was sent to foreign countries.

In the past, olive was cultivated on 3,100 hectares of land in Nangarhar, but decades of fighting and lack of attention damaged the olive orchards and currently olive on 1,720 hectares of land was existed.

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