The Maldives Agribusiness Programme (MAP) has selected and trained senior farmers from islands where agricultural training is being conducted through the establishment of model greenhouses.
The Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Welfare said the role of these senior farmers is to ensure that good farming practices taught under the project are followed when cultivating crops in the greenhouses established by the MAP project and in those developed by Island Farmer Forum (IFF) members working with the project.
According to the Ministry, the senior farmers will be responsible for ensuring that daily activities are carried out in line with the crop calendar prepared by the project. They will monitor checklist items regularly and, if necessary, identify areas for improvement, encourage corrective action, and support IFF members with their greenhouse activities in consultation with the project and the Ministry’s extension staff.
The MAP project will recruit at least two IFF members from each of the islands where greenhouses have been established, and where new greenhouses will be built.
Senior farmers will be recruited from:
- Molhadhoo, Haa Alifu Atoll
- Kelaa, Haa Alifu Atoll
- Filladhoo, Haa Alifu Atoll
- Uligam, Haa Alifu Atoll
- Kumundhoo, Haa Dhaalu Atoll
- Vaikaradhoo, Haa Dhaalu Atoll
- Makunudhoo, Haa Dhaalu Atoll
- Neykurendhoo, Haa Dhaalu Atoll
- Nolhivaranfaru, Haa Dhaalu Atoll
- Kanditheemu, Shaviyani Atoll
- Goidhoo, Shaviyani Atoll
- Bilehfahi, Shaviyani Atoll
- Foakaidhoo, Shaviyani Atoll
- Narudhoo, Shaviyani Atoll
- Feydhoo, Shaviyani Atoll
The criteria for selecting senior farmers include the amount of time they can dedicate, their involvement in planning and implementing greenhouse activities, their ability to motivate other farmers, and their technical expertise in day-to-day greenhouse operations.
In addition, the Ministry said that senior farmers will be selected in consultation with IFF members, as senior farmers hold greater responsibilities than the extension link farmers that are already present on each island. Ministry officials will travel to each island and meet IFF members and explain the purpose and duties of the role. Members who wish to volunteer to take on the role will be invited to do so, and if more than two candidates come forward, two will be chosen by secret ballot among IFF members. If no volunteers step forward, a notable participant may be appointed with the agreement of those present.
Senior farmers have already completed training programmes at the Hanimaadhoo Agricultural Centre and other facilities. The training programmes cover planting media, plant biology, nutrients, plant diseases and control methods, along with best practices in tree planting, accounting, crop planning, checklist maintenance, group work, and leadership.
MAP has been conducting many programmes and training to introduce and teach farmers new innovative farming methods to promote and expand agriculture in the Maldives.