Minister of Finance Ibrahim Ameer has stated Maldives needs to expand its farming and fishing sectors to increase productivity in the country's bid to be more self-dependent and reduce the impact of the economic regression caused by COVID-19.
Speaking in a press conference at the National Emergency Operations Centre (NEOC), Minister Ameer said the government is making plans to market the products of farmers and fishermen to a state-owned enterprise. Ameer said no country prepared well enough to brace the current situation and the economic regression as the impact was unforeseen. He called the Maldivians to economise and invest more time and energy on producing crops locally. He urged locals to take loans and expand farming and fishing.
Minister Ameer said the government is working to assist farmers with the financing and marketing their produce and as such, it will work with the National Agricultural Company to market the produce of farmers. The minister assured farmers that the produce will have a good market as the government plans to buy all produce. He said it is time for Maldives to revive farming and fishing in the country.
The finance minister added the government will also assist the expansion of the fishing sector, and increase storage capacity and value-added services. The minister said the government intends to gain more from the fish products and increase the income of fishermen by locally producing some fish products which were used to be imported. He said the administration intends to establish neighbourhood fish factories and expand the sector as well.
While Minister Ameer has made the remarks, State Trading Organisation (STO) has also come forward in announcing the opening of its agri-centre to better market the produce of farmers. Speaking at a press conference co-organised by the Ministry of Fisheries, Agriculture and Marine Resources and STO, Managing Director of STO Hussain Amr said the state-owned enterprise has now opened the opportunity for farmers to register at the centre. Farmers can register at the centre via the form available on its website, STO stores and in its pharmacies located across the country. Additionally, farmers can also Viber or WhatsApp a photo of the form to STO.
The managing director said STO expects the centre to be opened on May 1, near the North Harbour. Amr added farmers can get payments online once the centre purchases the produce of farmers. He additionally said STO aims to wholesale and distribute the items stating additional details would also be shared soon.
Once the farmers register, they will be assigned an ID and the centre will have to be provided with the identity card and other details of the items for STO to process prompt payments and manage the process better.