Olive is evergreen and oldest shrub cultivated throughout world. It is mainly cultivated for oil purpose. Oil extracted from its seeds is edible and having many health benefits like it is good source of vitamin C, control cholesterol level, regulate blood pressure, prevent cancer and many more. Although it is well known from thousand years, in India its commercial cultivation is on limited scale. Considering its health benefits and demand in international market, India has decided to encourage olive farming on large scale. Various projects are started in Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, J & K and Himachal Pradesh to increase olive cultivation areas.

In Himachal Pradesh, olive farming is done at the eight between 650-2300m from sea level. In Chamba, Kullu, Mandi, Sirmour and Solan regions of Himachal Pradesh olive farming is done.
 

It can be cultivated on wide range of soil. For optimum yield, it required well drained, deep, fertile loamy or clay loam soils. 6-7.5 is Ideal pH range of soil. Avoid water logging soils for its cultivation.

Frantoio: Late maturing variety, medium sized fruit, long shape having some spots, round shape and lower part is medium deep, violet color when turns at maturity, round, green flesh, gives average yield of 15-20kg and contains 26% oil content.

Coratina: Fruit having medium to small weight and shape which will depend upon more or less crop growth, long shape, lower part is less deep and is irregular, gives an average yield of 10-16kg per plant, contains 22-24% oil content, plant having medium growth but spreading.

Leccino: Late maturing variety, fruit has medium shape and weight, egg shaped fruit, violet color at maturity, top of fruit is cone shaped but lower part is deep and is irregular, gives average yield of 10-15kg per plant.    

Ascoterana: Fruit has medium size and weight, long, violet color at maturity, green color flesh, top part is round in shape, lower part is less deep and upto some extent irregular in shape, gives yield of 20-25kg per tree, plant is medium growing and is of spreading nature.

Ascolano: Fruit is of big size and has more weight, long shape, violet, top part is round in shape and lower part is deep and irregular, gives yield of 5-10kg per tree, contains 10-17 oil content, spreading plant, early to medium maturing variety.

Pendolino: Plants branches are bent downwards, plant size and stem is medium thick, medium growth of the plant, fruit has medium size, long, peel having few spots which is violet in color, deep green, top part of fruit is round in shape and lower part is deep and irregular, short peduncle, kernel has medium size and weight, long, kernel is round in shape having upper part pointed, kernel has rough orange color surface, late maturing variety, contains 20% oil content and 65% water content.  

Other state varieties:

It has two types

Oil type: Ascolanaterena, Aglandeau, Carolea, Canino, Frontoio, Pendolino.

Pickle type: Ascolano, Coratina, Cornicobra, Grosseune, Mission, Picholine.

Imported from Israel: Barnea, Arbequina, Cortina, Picholine, Picual, Coraniki and Frontoio

Ascolanaterena: Trees are compact type with black fruits. It is resistant to severe cold.

Canino: Trees are spreading type and fruits are small.

Carolea: Trees are short and compact; fruits are large, oval shape and bright black color.

Coratina: Suitable for pickling. Fruits are large and oval shape. The variety is resistant to cold and drought.
 

Plough land thoroughly and make land weed and clods free. Olive cannot survive in water logged conditions so care should be taken while preparing land.

Time of sowing
In rainfed areas, ideal planting time for olive cultivation is from July to August. In high rainfall areas, planting should be delay whereas in Irrigated areas, optimum time for cultivation is from December to January.

Spacing
Use spacing of 8 x 8m and in less fertile soil, spacing of 6 x 6m should be used.

Method of sowing
Transplantation of seedlings in main field.
 

Seed Rate   
When planting distance is kept about 8meter, in one acre 60tree are aquainted. When planting distance is 6mx5m, plant population is 100trees/acre where as in 8mx5m spacing, plant population is about 132 tree/acre.

Seed Treatment
Before sowing, soak stones/seeds in Caustic soda containing NaOH@10% to separate pulp from stones. After chemical treatment, wash seeds with running water.
 

For propagation Frontio, Coratina, Ascoterana, Ascolano varieties are suitable. 

Propagation by seeds: Collect ripen fruits in month of September-October. Do seed treatment as mention above. Then sow seeds in nursery at distance of 15cm between row and 5cm between seeds.

Propagation by cutting: Collect cuttings of 10-15cm from parent tree having 3-4nodes. Before planting, treat cuttings with NAA@500ppm + IBA@3000ppm for 8-10seconds. After roots develop, cuttings are taken out 11-12week after planting. After hardening they are sown in nursery. Grafting can be done in month of March-April. For grafting Patch budding, I budding techniques are adopted.
 

Initially for 2-3 years, pruning is not required. At time of transplantation, provide 10feet support to seedlings. Pruning of young tree can be carried out at any time, provided weather is clear and non-rainy. Avoid pruning in drought or water stress period. In bearing tree, carry out pruning after harvesting.

When tree becomes old then increase the intensity of pruning. After pruning, disinfect wounds with Bordeaux mixture.
 

Fertilizer Requirement (gm/plant)

For one year old plant, apply well decomposed cowdung or FYM@10kg, Nitrogen@75gm, Phosphorus@50gm and Potash@50gm per plant in form of Calcium Ammonium Nitrate@300gm, SSP@300gm and MOP@80gm/plant. Double the dose of nutrients every year and increase the dose of FYM/cowdung@5kg every year. 

For irrigated areas, apply whole quantity of FYM, P and K fertilizer in October month. And for rainfed areas, apply FYM, P and K fertilizer with onset of winter rains.

Apply Nitrogen fertilizer in three doses. Apply half of Nitrogen with onset of winter rains or after harvesting of fruits in case of bearing trees. Apply second dose of 1/4th of Nitrogen, two months before flowering and last dose of Nitrogen (remaining 1/4th dose) should be applied in monsoon rains (June-July).  
 

Well distributed rainfall of 100cm is required throughout its growing period. Flowering, blooming and fruit set are important stages for irrigation. Apply Irrigation, two weeks before flowering to ensure adequate flowering and minimization of flower bud drop. Also irrigation at blooming period and one month after fruit set is necessary. Also apply irrigation in hot and prolonged dry conditions.  

Take intercultural operation like weeding and hoeing to keep check on weed growth also to provide soil aeration. To control weeds chemically, depending upon intensity apply Glyphosate@800ml-1000 ml/acre for two-three times during entire growing period. To control grass weeds, apply Diuron@800gm/acre.

• Pest and their control:
  

Olive Fly: It is a major pest of Olive and causes considerable damage. Larva feeds on fruits and cause fruit drop and rotting of pulp.

To check the infestation use yellow sticky traps.

• Disease and their control:
  

Root Rot: It is mainly caused by a soil borne fungus. Infected tree become weak and deloped thin canopy. Bark and outer root show discoloration. In severe conditions, tree get dead.

Before sowing apply neem cake@60 kg/acre to the soil. Treat seeds with T. viride @ 4 gm/kg of seeds to reduce root rot incidence. If infection is observed do spot drenching of Carbendazim@1 gm/lit at the base of affected plants as well as surrounding healthy plants.

Leaf Spot: It developed sooty-mold on the underside of the leaves. Also causes yellowing and then leaf drop.

If infestation of disease is observed in field, spray crop with Copper Oxychloride@3 gm/litre or Mancozeb@2.5 gm/ltr, 3 to 4 times in every 15 days interval.

Canker: Developed galls or swelling on branches and kills small shoots and branches.

To control plant from canker, spray COC@18 gm with Streptocycline @6 gms in 10 ltr water. Repeat the spray after 30 days interval.

Wilt: Serious fungal disease of olive crop. Sudden defoliation of leaves in growing season is major symptoms. In severe conditions, tree get wilt and entire plant get dead.

Treat seeds with Thiram@3gm/Ltr water or Carbendazim@2gm/Ltr water of water before sowing and avoid early sowing in badly affected areas. Drench the infected area with Carbendazim@5gm/Ltr water.

Peacock Spot: Also known as bird eye spots. It appears on leaves and developed muddy green to black circular spots. In severe infestation, spots can be seen on fruits and stems.

This disease has no cure. Before planting, disinfect soil by soil solarization process.

Right time of harvesting is necessary. Early harvesting will leads to low oil content with bitterness and whereas delay in harvesting, harvesting of over ripe olive causes oil with higher acidity.

For pickle purpose, harvesting is carried out 29-30 weeks after flowering. At time of harvesting, firmness, color and degree of bitterness are taken into account. Fruit changes its color to purple black color.