President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih has stated the government will work with local councils to ease the difficulties in leasing plots from inhabited islands for farming activities. He made the statement while speaking at the official reception held at Kandoodhoo, Thaa Atoll, to celebrate National Farmers' Day.
In his speech, President Solih said certain challenges limit the progression of the farming industry and cited the issues accentuated at the recent Farmers Forum. He emphasised that space constraints on inhabited islands have restricted some opportunities for the industry to thrive, given most farming is carried out in inhabited islands.
Furthermore, President Solih applauded the Kandoodhoo farming community for the huge impact it has had on the farming sector, highlighting that the chilli peppers produce on the island had branded itself as a prime product with high demand. The president stressed that countries such as the Maldives, with limited landmass, would need to adapt and incorporate modern technological advances and scientific data in farming activities. He said relaying the information to farmers had been a challenge and that these opportunities had not been properly communicated to most farmers, despite the availability of loans for agricultural purposes.
Additionally, President Solih said the government plans to curtail and levy taxes on the import of various food types to encourage locally grown produce to enter the market and ensure food safety. He reiterated the detrimental effects of lack of farming space in improving the local farming industry and noted that adopting new technologies such as vertical farming methods may help begin to address the issue.
President Solih also awarded plaques to two individuals for their contributions to the advancement of the agriculture sector during the ceremony.