Gov’t to buy local farming and agricultural yield

President Mohamed Nasheed has said that the government to buy local farming and agricultural yield to market locally produced goods.

The President said this meeting the people of Feevah, during his tour to three islands of Miladhunmaduli Uthuruburi.

President said that the government has been working on strengthening commercial agriculture to reduce reliance on imported food and attain food security. The President said that he hopes that the government’s decision to buy local farming and agricultural yields will help develop and diversify the agricultural sector and facilitate the availability of agricultural inputs.

Meanwhile, addressing the People’s Majlis, the President has earlier said President said that much work was also done by the government last year to develop agriculture in the Maldives. He said that agricultural products of 3 islands were brought out to the market by contracting tourist resorts and food supply companies in this regard.

In addition, President Nasheed said that 1.7 million Rufiyaa worth of goods were made available to farmers at reasonable rates and 1,932 farmers were trained in various aspects of agriculture. He said that four uninhabited islands were leased by the government for agriculture, and soft loans worth Rf 18 million were extended to 332 agricultural workers.

Furthermore, the President said that significant measures to be implemented this year includes, granting subsidies worth a total of 50 million Rufiyaa, paving the way for farmers in 25 islands to market their agricultural goods on a regular basis, and the setting up of an Agricultural School in Laamu Atoll Gan to train farmers in advanced agricultural techniques.