The ROCL is a pioneer project that should have a huge effect over modern olive groves establishments in Rajasthan, and other states with similar climate conditions in India.
The ROCL project’s main objectives are to study the potential of olive production in different sites of Rajasthan state, and to adopt commercial olive grove management techniques that could be transferred to the local farmers. Each site is 30 hectares of groves, with a pollination plan consisting of cv. Barnea, cv. Arbequina, cv. Picual, cv. Coratina, cv. Picholine M., cv. Koroneiki and cv.Frantoio. The project is due to produce a commercial yield in 2012. It is expected to obtain such yields in 4 of the 7 sites. A processing plant is due to be installed next year in order to give olive oil processing services to the current sites and also to future groves in the area.
The ROCL project is developing the manuals and methods for olive cultivation in a new region with a climate that is slightly, but not entirely similar to the north west Argentine climate.
The importance of this project is that it is developing a crop with a huge domestic market, what makes olive cultivation a very attractive alternative for the local farmer or any company that will focused on olive cultivation in Rajasthan and India.
